Common Writing Errors 4: The Proper Use of ‘However’

Hello Everyone

Sometimes, it seems to me that a common writing error decides to swarm for no apparent reason. In the last week, one error in particular infected a few online articles I read, some of which were from reputable sources. That error was an apparent inability to use the word ‘however’ correctly.

(Source here)

A news article about the use of iPads in schools had the following:

She denied the school had an exclusivity agreement with Apple, however details about how to buy Apple products remain on the school's website.

There are two separate ideas in this sentence and a full stop or a semi-colon should have separated them:

She denied the school had an exclusivity agreement with Apple. However, details about how to buy Apple products remain on the school's website.

She denied the school had an exclusivity agreement with Apple; however, details about how to buy Apple products remain on the school's website.

Note the use of a comma after ‘however’ in both versions. This is the proper way to punctuate a conjunctive adverb, which normally acts to join two independent clauses.

Another article made the mistake of not using the comma when faced with the same ‘two independent clauses’ structure:

They were probably used as ritual or ceremonial objects; however these artifacts were important for the expansion of a civilization as well.

In other parts of this article ‘however’ was used to introduce an independent clause and a comma was used as it should be:

However, it is unlikely that the jade axes were used to cut large quantities of wood.

If you hadn’t realised, this is the same structure as the first italicised sentence above.

Of course, the adverb itself can be used in the middle of a sentence, as in the following case:

Objects like the Canterbury jade axehead, however, were not used for farming, they were symbols of status.

This sentence, however, has another type of error. It actually contains two independent clauses and the comma after ‘farming’ should be a semi-colon:

Objects like the Canterbury jade axehead, however, were not used for farming; they were symbols of status.

One of the times a comma isn’t used with ‘however’ is when the word is part of a dependent clause, as in the sentence below:

However you define it, success relies on a mix of talent, hard work, and luck.

Then there's the construction in the illustration below, where 'however' is part of a noun phrase:

(Source here)

I hope these examples clarify the usage of ‘however’ for you. If you have any other grammar problems you want me to tackle, please let me know in the comments.

Thanks, and warm wishes

Earl

Cyfaredd 22: Arrival in Moffat

Haia Pawb

The drive from Ynys Môn to Moffat, Scotland, my next research venue, took over five hours, with a couple of rest stops along the way. When I left Ynys Mon and travelled towards Scotland, North Wales was in bright sunshine, but the weather became colder and greyer the farther north I went.

The Menai Suspension Bridge (opened 1826) over the Menai Strait, which is at low tide

The Britannia Bridge (opened 1850) and some Welsh sheep

Clouds, mist and landscape, Moffat

During my last trip to Moffat, I stayed at The Bonnington Hotel, which is on the main street of the town. I enjoyed the hospitality and convenience of the place so much I decided to book there again. Paul and Lesley, the proprietors, remembered me from last time and were again welcoming and helpful.

The Bonnington Hotel on High Street

Moffat (from the Scottish Gaelic Am Magh Fada, ‘The Long Plain’) was a centre of the wool trade and was also a popular spa town. In the town’s marketplace is a statue of a ram by the sculptor William Brodie, which commemorates Moffat’s wool trade importance. The ram was presented to the town by William Colvin, a local businessman, in 1875.

The Moffat Ram--the ears have been missing since 1875

The High Street looking up from The Bonnington

The High Street looking down from The Bonnington

The Moffat Post Office, from where I sent home, on both trips, packages of books and gifts

As some of you may realize, I have not indulged in my love of jackdaws for a number of postings. However, here's another instalment. After I checked in, I went to my room to unpack and when I looked out my window I noticed a few jackdaws on nearby rooftops. Suddenly, a whole flight of them decided to put on a display for me, I kid you not, for the next half an hour. Below are some photos I took of their aerobatics and antics:

After dinner from the local chipper, I spent the evening writing up notes and preparing my research schedule for the next few days. My next posting will feature an account of a wet climb up a nearby landmark.

That’s it for now. As always, I hope you’re enjoying these posts and I welcome any comments.

Cofion Cymes

Earl