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Hrsanei Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Punctuation of HOWEVER
Hi.
I have problem with the punctuation of however. I have hard times figuring out if I should use comma after it or not.
I think when however functions as a conjuction, it is never followed by a comma ;
Ex. However you look at it, it was a wicked thing to do.
Ex. You can do it however you like.
(http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/however_2 )
But when however is adverb and carries the meaning of nevertheless. It can either be followed by comma or not.
Ex. This is a cheap and simple process. However there are dangers.
Ex. An extremely unpleasant disease which is, however, easy to treat.
(http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/however_1 )
I think I can follow my ear most of the time to see whether however should be followed by comma or not, but I would be grateful if you could tell the grammatical rule behind it.
Thank you
Hamid
I have problem with the punctuation of however. I have hard times figuring out if I should use comma after it or not.
I think when however functions as a conjuction, it is never followed by a comma ;
Ex. However you look at it, it was a wicked thing to do.
Ex. You can do it however you like.
(http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/however_2 )
But when however is adverb and carries the meaning of nevertheless. It can either be followed by comma or not.
Ex. This is a cheap and simple process. However there are dangers.
Ex. An extremely unpleasant disease which is, however, easy to treat.
(http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/however_1 )
I think I can follow my ear most of the time to see whether however should be followed by comma or not, but I would be grateful if you could tell the grammatical rule behind it.
Thank you
Hamid
Top answer
hrsanei I think when however functions as a conjuction, it is never followed by a comma ; That is right. hrsanei But when however is adverb and carries the meaning of nevertheless. It can either be followed by comma or not.
- hrsanei I think when however functions as a conjuction, it is never followed by a comma ; That is right.
- hrsanei But when however is adverb and carries the meaning of nevertheless.
- It can either be followed by comma or not.
- The rule is that a comma should always follow however when it is used as a conjunctive adverb.
- If the comma is omitted, the meaning of the sentence could momentarily throw the reader off.
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4 Answers
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hrsaneiI think when however functions as a conjuction, it is never followed by a comma ;That is right.
hrsaneiBut when however is adverb and carries the meaning of nevertheless. It can either be followed by comma or not.The rule is that a comma should always follow however when it is used as a conjunctive
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Thank you for your reply, but it is still vague for me when a comma should be used.
I don't think if it would be a matter of taste to use comma when however acts as an adverb.
Thank you
Hamid
I don't think if it would be a matter of taste to use comma when however acts as an adverb.
Thank you
Hamid
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hrsaneiBut when however is adverb and carries the meaning of nevertheless. It can either be followed by comma or not.Ex. This is a cheap and simple process. However there are dangers.Ex. An extremely unpleasant disease which is, however, easy to treat.Longman, again. That is one creaky dictionary. The comma is not optional. "However there are dangers" looks l
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hrsaneiThank you for your reply, but it is still vague for me when a comma should be used.Use a comma immediately after the word when it is a conjunctive adverb (or conjunct) and can be replaced with nevertheless or yet.
I don't like you; however, I respect you.
I don't like you, yet I respect
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