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Grammar & Usage

However: 7 Sentence Positions & 2 Uses

Tanya TruslerAugust 27, 2014

However you look at it, “however” is tricky to teach and learn!

In our Militarized Police lesson, we’ve included a grammar review of the term however because it is used in various ways in the reading. Our head writer asked me to expand on it in this week’s blog post, and I thought that was a great idea since many of my former students struggled with this word when writing formal essays (especially in my TOEFL class). Any intermediate to advanced student would benefit from a review of the usage, sentence position, and punctuation of however!

Use #1: Contrast

A. As a Connector

The most common use of however is as an adverb that connects two sentences/clauses in order to show a contrasting idea. In this use, however is also known as a transition word or a conjunctive adverb. It is common in formal speaking and writing. Think of it as a formal way to say but, but don’t make the mistake of using it with the same punctuation! (Conjunctions like but and and take an optional comma before and no comma after.)

Sentence Position #1

However comes at the beginning of the second sentence (the one that describes the contrast or opposite viewpoint), following the period from the first sentence. In this position, however is followed by a comma.

  • We were told we would be discussing the new schedule during the meeting. However, our boss never brought it up once.
  • The temperature on Mercury’s surface exceeds 430 degrees Celsius during the day. However, it falls to minus 180 degrees at night.
  • Our school only has Apple computers. However, some students are more familiar with PCs.

Sentence Position #2

Similar to Position #1, however can also join two sentences/clauses together. Place a semicolon after the first clause, followed by however and a comma.

  • We were told we would be discussing the new schedule during the meeting; however, our boss never brought it up once.
  • The temperature on Mercury’s surface exceeds 430 degrees Celsius during the day; however, it falls to minus 180 degrees at night.
  • Our school only has Apple computers; however, some students are more familiar with PCs.

What’s the difference between the examples in Sentence Positions #1 and #2? Nothing! Use both ways for variety within your essay. Using a period is often recommended when both sentences are quite long. Using a semicolon is recommended for shorter sentences or to keep the train of thought “flowing” smoothly (using a semicolon connects and relates two sentences a bit more than a period does).

B. As an Aside

However is also an adverb in this case, and it is used to show contrast or opposing ideas. The difference is in the placement of the word, which also affects its strength. In these next two positions, however is not directly following one idea and preceding the next, so as you can guess, it’s not as strong of a contrast. However in these positions is also known as a nonessential adverb or a parenthetical adverb. It is not essential or as important to the meaning of the sentence. The idea is that you could remove however without it affecting the meaning of the rest of the sentence that much.

Sentence Position #3

Insert however after the subject of the second sentence. It can also fall between a two‑part verb (between the auxiliary or modal and main verb). In these positions, commas must come before and after however.

  • I can’t make it to the party. My husband, however, will be attending.
  • The union came up with a plan. The government, however, wants to renegotiate.
  • Camping in the summer is fun. You must, however, remember to use sunscreen.

Sentence Position #4

Place however at the end of the second sentence. A comma must precede however in this position.

  • I can’t make it to the party. My husband will be attending, however.
  • The union came up with a plan. The government wants to renegotiate, however.
  • Camping in the summer is fun. You must remember to use sunscreen, however.

What’s the difference between the four sentence positions so far? Can we use all four with no difference in meaning? The answer to that is yes, although using Positions #3 and #4 suggests that the connection between the two sentences is slightly less important.

  • I have two dogs. However, my roommate prefers cats.
  • I have two dogs; however, my roommate prefers cats.
  • I have two dogs. My roommate, however, prefers cats.
  • I have two dogs. My roommate prefers cats, however.

Use #2: In Whatever Manner

However is also a conjunction or adverb (depending on the sentence position) that means in whatever manner or means or no matter how.

Sentence Position #5

Conjunction: Place however between two clauses with no punctuation on either side.

  • I will assist however I can.
  • Decorate it however you like.

Sentence Positions #6 & #7

Adverb: Place however at the beginning of the dependent clause. In English, dependent clauses can follow independent clauses (use no punctuation before or after however) or begin the sentence (use no punctuation after however). If the dependent clause begins the sentence, don’t forget to include a comma at the end of the dependent clause.

  • The situation is unfair however you look at it.
  • However you look at it, the situation is unfair.

Even though this seems like a lot to take in, remember that most formal transition words in English (such as moreover, on the other hand, furthermore, in contrast, etc.) all follow the same first four sentence patterns. Find a comprehensive list of transition words on page 5 of our How to Write Body Paragraphs lesson.

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Comments (23)

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Tara Benwell(Author)

I think it helps teachers and learners to know that we do a lot of research when we're working on our lessons. Native English speakers and even teachers, writers, and editors may know something is right or wrong, but we still have to look up rules when it comes to explaining the intricacies of language. We learned so much this week. Thank you!

We learned a lot about 'however' as one word, but what about 'how ever'? We often use it at the beginning of a question, such as 'How ever did this happen?'. Can you help us sort this use out, Tanya?

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Tanya Trusler(Author)

That's so true! I always double-check all the grammar rules before writing a post, and I usually end up learning something new! In this case, it was when to use 'how ever' as two words. Here is what Oxford Dictionary Online (http://www.oxforddictionaries.com) had to say about the usage of however vs. how ever:

'When 'ever' is used for emphasis after how or why, it should be written as a separate word. Thus it is correct to write 'how ever did you manage?' rather than 'however did you manage?' (as distinct from other uses of the adverb 'however,' which is always written as one word). With other words such as what, where, and who, the situation is not clear-cut: both two-word and one-word forms (both 'what ever' and 'whatever,' and so on) are well represented, and neither is regarded as particularly more correct than the other.'

I'd advise you to tell your students to stick to the one-word spelling, unless it's specifically used for emphasis at the beginning of a sentence (when you could remove the word 'ever' and the meaning wouldn't change).
For example: How ever did you do it? (= How did you do it?)

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Dawood (Guest)

Tanya, I always appreciate how you make general rules at the end. Like in the response to the question. Absorbing every word is a challenge but concepts, I can manage.

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Tanya Trusler(Author)

Thank you, Dawood Phillip! That's so nice to hear. :)

Prashanna (Guest)

Hello Tanya!
I am preparing the TOEFL Integrated writing section. Is the following sentence grammatically correct? 'The lecturer, however, rebuts the author's argument?' I've heard that one should better not use the parenthetical adverb. Is it okay to go with the above sentence?
Thanking you!

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Tanya Trusler(Author)

Hi Prashanna,

That sentence is correct (i.e., 'The lecturer, however, rebuts the author's argument.'). An adverb in that position is quite formal, so it's often seen in academic writing. I would absolutely recommend using adverbs in this position on the TOEFL test. Best of luck to you!

Narges Javadpour(Guest)

Dear Tanya,
I was teaching the position of 'however' as a conjunctive adverb in a sentence yesterday, when I suddenly wondered whether I was using it in the right position in this sentence:
The lesson was confusing and the students did not listen very carefully; the exam, however, was not as difficult as they assumed it to be.
What I need to know is could we separate the verb 'to be' from the negating element and put it before 'however' along with the subject? As:
The lesson was confusing and the students did not listen very carefully; the exam was, however, not as difficult as they assumed it to be.
Or since it is the main verb, we are not allowed to, and it is only when 'to be' is an auxiliary, as in present or past progressive, just like modal auxiliaries as in:
The research relies heavily on literary embellishments of the text in question; the stylistic features cannot, however, be studied in a completely literary critical approach.

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Tanya Trusler(Author)

Hi Narges, great question! In mid-sentence position, 'however' can almost always be placed next to what you'd like to emphasize. Your first example ('The exam, however, was not as difficult...') is correct and places emphasis on the exam. Another natural example would be 'The exam was not, however, as difficult...', and this places the emphasis on the lack of difficulty. To answer your question about your second example ('The exam was, however, not as difficult...'), it is possible but it's not really doing as much for the sentence, and it doesn't sound like the most natural choice. Keeping 'was not' together is more natural. You're right when you guessed that it's also natural for 'however' to come after the Be verb when it's acting as an auxiliary ('...cannot, however, be...') or before an adjective ('The exam was, however, extremely difficult').

Fuclam (Guest)

Thanks Tanya!
Your post is very comprehensible and rational which help me much in my study.

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Tanya Trusler(Author)

I'm very happy to hear that! Thanks for your comment.

Rehan Law(Guest)

Can all of the conductive adverbs be placed at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence?

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Tanya Trusler(Author)

Hi Rehan, great question! Most of them can take these three positions. There are a few exceptions, however! Subscribers can see all the transition words and phrases along with exceptions and examples here: https://ellii.com/resource_categories/103/resources/2546

For those who aren't subscribers, I'll copy the exceptions here:
- Such as almost always appears after a noun (not at the beginning or end of a sentence).
- Also can appear at the beginning or end of a sentence. At the end, it is not preceded by a comma.
- As well should only come at the end of a sentence with no preceding comma.
- Thus, again, likewise, like, and unlike usually only appear at the beginning of a sentence.
- Meanwhile can appear at the beginning of a sentence or after a subject.

Yoshino A.(Member)

I find your article really useful! Thanks a lot. I saw this sentence while reading a grammar book: "It is important to emphasize, however, that a present or past time remote conditional does not entail that P is false"

Could I say "It is, however, important to emphasize that..." instead?

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Tanya Trusler(Author)

Thanks for your kind words, Yoshino! Yes, you certainly could put "however" between the Be verb and the adjective, and both sentences have essentially the same meaning.

Mark Sherman(Guest)

Interesting example from Tanya about separating the words as a discretionary move, i.e., for emphasis rather than for meaning: How ever did you do it? Another test in that situation is whether you could move “ever” before the main verb, as in: How did you ever do it? In fact, that’s how I would actually speak: How did you ever figure out the answer to that question? implying the question was known to be particularly difficult, with the possibility that I might never figure it out.

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Tanya Trusler(Author)

Thanks for your comment, Mark! That's a great test, and I agree that "ever" before the main verb sounds much more natural.

Mike Frank(Guest)

Hi Tanya,
Your explanation is great and easy to understand, but I'm still confused about the example: However you look at it, the situation is unfair.

You said that however in the above example is an adverb, but can an adverb connect two clauses? it seems to me that in the sentence "however" functions as a conjunction, not an adverb, because it connects YOU LOOK AT IT and THE SITUATION IS UNFAIR.

Thanks in advance for your answer.

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Tanya Trusler(Author)

Hi Mike,
That's a great question. I did a bit of research and found that not everyone agrees on when to call it a conjunction and when to call it an adverb. Some references would call "however" in your example a conjunction, some an adverb, and some a conjunctive adverb. My post was mostly based on the examples in Merriam-Webster and their entries for "however" as a conjunction and an adverb, but note that Lexico (Oxford) dictionary doesn't even have an entry for "however" as a conjunction! My personal test is to call it a conjunction when you can't move the clauses (e.g., we can say "Decorate it however you like" but not "However you like, decorate it") and an adverb (i.e., a conjunctive adverb) when you can move the clauses (e.g., "The situation is unfair however you look at it" and "However you look at it, the situation is unfair").

Jean damor Niyodusaba(Guest)

I would like to request you to clearly differentiate between use of however and how ever in a sentence

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Tanya Trusler(Author)

Hi Jean, there is an explanation with examples in the first comment response above (under Comments at the end of the blog post). In short, if you can drop "ever" and the meaning is still the same, you could spell it with two words. Just remember that the one-word spelling is also correct and is much more common.

Examples:
- How ever did you do it? (Correct because we can also say "How did you do it?" In this sentence, "ever" is used for emphasis.)
- However did you do it? (Also correct and more common)
- However, I didn't end up applying for the job. (Correct)
- How ever, I didn't end up applying for the job. (Incorrect because we can't say "How, I didn't end up applying for the job.")

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