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Question

I am trying to figure out how to use the word however in a sentence. Could someone explain the differences of beneath stated sentences?

For example:

1. I like fast food, however, it is not healthy to eat fast food every day.

2. I like fast food, however. It is not healthy to eat fast food every day.

3. I like fast food. However, it is not healthy to eat fast food every day.

4. I like fast food. It is, however, not healthy to eat fast food every day.

So if I would write the above stated sentence in a essay I would have chosen option 2 and 4. Those sentences sound correct in my opinion. However, I often see option 1 and 4 in written English. I am not sure if I used 'however' in the correct way but that is how I see how people uses however.

I am not sure if the following is correct, but I also sometimes see that however is used at the end of a sentence. Like: I like fast food, it is not healthy to eat fast food every day, however.

But I think the last example cannot be correct.

Thanks in advance.

Clive · Accepted Answer

I am trying to figure out how to use the word however in a sentence. Could someone explain the differences of beneath stated sentences?

For example:

1. I like fast food, however, it is not healthy to eat fast food every day. Not correct. 'However' is an adverb, so don't use it to join two sentences. Here, precede it with a period or, occasionally, a semi-colon.

2. I like fast food, however. It is not healthy to eat fast food every day.
Placing 'however' at the end is a casual and rather conversational form of placing it at the start. In both cases, it relates to the previous sentence and not to the following one.
eg Fast food is dangerous. I like fast food, however. It is not healthy to eat fast food every day.

3. I like fast food. However, it is not healthy to eat fast food every day. Fine

4. I like fast food. It is, however, not healthy to eat fast food every day. Fine. Perhaps a little less emphatic than #3.

So if I would write the above stated sentence in a essay I would have chosen option 2 and 4. See my comments above. 3 and then 4 are best for an essay.

Those sentences sound correct in my opinion. However, I often see option 1 and 4 in written English. I am not sure if I used 'however' in the correct way but that is how I see how people uses however.

I am not sure if the following is correct, but I also sometimes see that however is used at the end of a sentence. Like: I like fast food, it is not healthy to eat fast food every day, however.

But I think the last example cannot be correct. Yes,it's very poor English.

Clive

Tafelkleed · Answer

Thanks for your reply.

Just 1 more question about this topic

1. I like fast food. It is not healthy to eat fast food every day, however.
2. I like fast food. However, it is not healthy to eat fast food every day.
3. I like fast food. It is, however, not healthy to eat fast food every day.

When should I pick option 1 and 3 over 2? Option 2 sounds most natural in my ears.

I made a typo in my original post about which one I would pick, my pick would be 2.

I don't really understand why someone would use option 1 and 3. According to you option 1 would be used in a conversation(?) and option 3 is a little less emphatic. What you mean by that? Could you explain a little bit more?

Thanks!

Clive · Answer

Just 1 more question about this topic

1. I like fast food. It is not healthy to eat fast food every day, however.
2. I like fast food. However, it is not healthy to eat fast food every day.
3. I like fast food. It is, however, not healthy to eat fast food every day.

When should I pick option 1 and 3 over 2? Option 2 sounds most natural in my ears.
When you say 'however', you are signaling to the other person that you are now changing direction in in what you are saying.
That's why #2 is best. It puts the signal right up front.
#1 is often used in conversation when the speaker does not clearly recognize the change in direction until after he says what he wants to say.

#2 also often means that it is just a small change in direction.
#3 also suggests the change in direction is a little less important.

Consider these examples.
eg Tom loved Mary with all his heart. However, he did not want to marry her. Big change in direction. Big surprise for the reader.
eg Tom loved Mary with all his heart. He did not, however, like her brother. Smallchange in direction. Not a big surprise for the reader.

I don't want to put too much stress on this matter of emphasis. Sometimes the placement of 'however' makes no real difference.

I made a typo in my original post about which one I would pick, my pick would be 2.

I don't really understand why someone would use option 1 and 3. According to you option 1 would be used in a conversation(?) and option 3 is a little less emphatic. What you mean by that? Could you explain a little bit more?

Clive

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