Weird sentence from our english textbook

Question

I've come across this sentence which appears to me a bit odd in a logical way and what is more, even the correction of the use of an adverb "however" is not too plain for me.

"British people still eat a lot of fish and chips, however, so this appears to be one of the best representations of traditional British food."

At first, "however" cannot do the function of a conjunction so the two lines don't work correctly, do they? In my opinion, it should be with semicolon before "however" or there should be created a new sentence.

Next, how does this sentence appear to a native ear? Does it make sense?

Thank you for your ideas.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Maroldhow does this sentence appear to a native ear? Does it make sense?

Yes. It's fine. The contrast is with the information in the previous sentence, which is not shown.

Fish and chips ... blah, blah, blah ... the British ... blah, blah, blah. British people still eat a lot of fish and chips, however, so this appears to be one of the best representations of traditional British food.

Here, however =~ despite what was said in the previous sentence.

An alternative punctuation scheme has this instead:

Fish and chips ... blah, blah, blah ... the British ... blah, blah, blah; however, British people still eat a lot of fish and chips, so this appears to be one of the best representations of traditional British food.

CJ

Enoon · Answer

"However" is an adverb there; it goes with the first clause. The word that is standing in for a conjunction is "so". There are people who would like to see a semicolon in sentences like this one, but they want it before "so", because they say that "so" is not a conjunction any more than "therefore" is: "British people still eat a lot of fish and chips, however; so this appears to be one of the best representations of traditional British food." Those people insist that in the absence of a semicolon, "so" should be "so that" when the meaning permits.

In everyday writing, that sentence is OK, and it makes perfect sense. That use of "so" with a comma has become established.

Marold · Answer

Thank you both very much.

But, if I said for example this sentence:

"I am glad you have told me that secret, however, keep it only for yourself from now on."
or
"I am glad you have told me that secret; however, keep it only for yourself from now on."
or
"I am glad you have told me that secret. However, keep it only for yourself from now on."

What is incorrect and then, what is acceptable according to grammar to use?

CalifJim · Answer

Marold-
1 "I am glad you have told me that secret, however, keep it only for yourself from now on."
or
2 "I am glad you have told me that secret; however, keep it only for yourself from now on."
or
3 "I am glad you have told me that secret. However, keep it only for yourself from now on."

If you are writing for publication, you will have to use the style manual followed by your publisher.
If you are writing for course work, your teacher should say which style manual is to be followed.

Absent any directives about a style manual, my recommendation is to use either 2 or 3. Both are acceptable.

CJ

Weird sentence from our english textbook

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