I didn't want to go to school at all; however, I had an exam that day so I needed to.
I never see people use it like this, so I researched the right way to use it. In a site called words-work, <http://www.words-work.co.uk/topicdetails.asp?lblref=ww030&topicID=49&pic=FAQs>, people are taught to use "however" in two ways. The examples that the website gives are as follows:
1. "The analysis made with this report, however, concluded that there is very little difference between the two approaches in practice."
2. "Numerous references can be found to the environmental benefits of water transport. However, there are few specific studies defining the benefits that water transport has over other modes."
Neither of these ways was how I was taught to use it, so maybe there are different ways that other people have learned to use it too?
4 comments:
While the way you were taught to use "however" is grammatically correct, I can't say that I have ever seen it used that way. I have always stuck to using it at the beginning or the end of a sentence. I did like the example you included in your post that used "however" in the middle of the sentence, though. I might have to try and remember to use it that way.
Back to the way you were taught to use "however" - that example is just too complicated for me. In that example, you're not only tackling the issue of how to use "however," but you're also introducing another grammatical issue that has proven troublesome to many - the semicolon... dun-dun-dunnnn....
I understand how to use a semicolon, I suppose. I was taught that you use it to connect two very similar thoughts that are themselves independent clauses, but that are similar enough to not be separated by a period. Confusing, no? I just don't understand the purpose of a semicolon. Are a period and a semicolon not interchangeable? What are the rules regulating that perplexing topic?
I do understand your confusion with "however," though...
Honestly, I have to say that i'm not sure if I ever really thought about how to use however in a sentence. I guess I always used it when it seemed fit for whatever sentence I was writing. Im not sure if I have ever seen it written in a sentence like in your example, so I'm not really sure if it is used correctly or not.
Whenever I looked at the link that explained the different ways to use however, it made sense. And now that i know some different ways to use however in a sentnece I can start to use it in my own writing.
You bring up an interesting point. Until reading your blog I hadn't thought about how to use "however" as being an issue but I realized that every time I want to use I always question where to put it and what punctuation to use around it. I will admit that I don't think I have ever seen however used as it was in your example, with a semicolon before but I think the grammar is correct. The link you provided was useful and made sense. I will have to think about that next time I am writing.
I have never really thought about how to use however in a sentence. I guess that i just used it whenever and wherever i thought it was appropriate.
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