'However' is a conjunction. |
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Votes: 915
Comments: 11
Added: September 2003
| alex - 15th October 2005 00:08 |
| 'However' was once a conjunction, but ever since 'I did it, however I don't know why' became an incorrect sentence, it can no longer be considered to be one as conjunctions join two sentences into one and certainly do not require semi-colons. |
| Elste - 14th July 2006 10:54 |
| The word "however" is acceptable in use as a conjunction where it can be used as a replscement for either "but" or "nevertheless" . This has been accepted by the Oxford Dictionary (the big one with 30 odd volumes, not the stupid little dictionaries most people have at school) since approximately 1630. People who say otherwise are arguing against English professors and lecturers all over the world. Consult a world expert on the history of English - and not just your average, poorly educated, ignorant school teacher - and you will find the real asnwer. |
| OED - 27th April 2007 15:20 |
| There was no Oxford dictionary in 1630. |
| Anastasia - 28th January 2008 19:01 |
| So much for ignorance and education :-) |
| piwi - 16th June 2008 07:18 |
| To be precise, I think that 'however' is a conjunctive adverb. When used as a conjunction, it needs stronger punctuation than a simple conjunction like 'but' (the easiest form is to put it in another sentence). As an adverb, it can wander around positionally in a sentence in a way that a conjunction cannot. For more see web.cn.edu/kwheeler/grammar_subordin ate.html, for example. |
| Judy - 24th September 2008 19:07 |
| Back in the day, I was taught that "however" was a conjunction to be used with commas both before and after it. Its current common usage at the beginning of a sentence (followed by a comma) was considered incorrect. When copyediting scientific manuscripts, I allow this incorrect usage to stand, but I sigh and my heart aches. |
| Rafeeq O. McGiveron - 24th September 2008 19:41 |
| Ah, Judy, my sweet friend and colleague, I must agree with Piwi's post of 16 June 08. Despite the assertions of the oh-so-learned Elste of 2006, I maintain that present-day American English requires a semicolon when independent clauses are joined with "however." If, however, the word is like this, then as Piwi points out, it of course "can wander around positionally..." I guess we're all in agreement on this latter case, at least. |
| broxtermonster - 15th October 2008 06:32 |
| Yes, it's a conjuctive adverb. I agree. I was looking around online to make sure this was still correct, as my students keep using it as a conjunction, and even though it seems to be up for debate, I'm glad to see there are some that still agree with me. My highschool English teacher was too obsessed with grammar to be wrong! |
| jill - 11th February 2009 11:17 |
| im agree, however is a conjuction. |
| elly - 8th April 2009 12:22 |
| it' s true that however is a conjunction. |
| Dan - 2nd November 2009 16:54 |
| It is a coordinating adverb. It is NOT a conjunction. See: http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/dur rus/153/gramch28.html |
