-However
What does "however" even do?
Think of “however” as your go-to word for saying, “Wait, here’s the twist!” It’s like a polite debate partner that gently disagrees or adds a “but” with extra flair. For example:
- *“I *love* pizza; however, pineapple as a topping is a crime.”*
Here, “however” flips the conversation from loving pizza to hating pineapple on it.
Two main roles:
1. The Contrast Queen: When linking two opposing ideas.
- *“She studied all night; however, the test was still hard.”*
(Translation: She tried, but life said, “Nope.”)
2. The “No Matter What” Friend: When it means “in any way” or “to any degree.”
- *“However you slice the cake, save me the corner piece.”*
(No slicing method changes the demand for that frosting corner.)
Where people trip up:
- Punctuation: If you drop “however” mid-sentence, hug it with commas.
- *“I wanted to go out, however, my bank account said, ‘Stay home.’”*
- Starting a sentence: Pop a comma after it.
- *“However, let’s agree pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza.”*
Fancy alternatives?
- “Nevertheless”: For when you want to sound like a TED Talk.
*“It rained all day. Nevertheless, the wedding was magical.”*
- “On the other hand”: Best for comparing two choices.
*“I hate crowds. On the other hand, free concert tickets are tempting.”*
Pro tip: In essays or emails, “however” makes you sound thoughtful. But don’t overdo it—sprinkle it like confetti, not dump the whole bag.
Real-life practice:
1. Text your friend: *“I’m exhausted. However, I’ll still watch your dog this weekend.”*
2. Email your boss: *“The project hit a snag. However, we’re brainstorming fixes!”* What does "however" even do?
Think of “however” as your go-to word for saying, “Wait, here’s the twist!” It’s like a polite debate partner that gently disagrees or adds a “but” with extra flair. For example:
- *“I *love* pizza; however, pineapple as a topping is a crime.”*
Here, “however” flips the conversation from loving pizza to hating pineapple on it.
Two main roles:
1. The Contrast Queen: When linking two opposing ideas.
- *“She studied all night; however, the test was still hard.”*
(Translation: She tried, but life said, “Nope.”)
2. The “No Matter What” Friend: When it means “in any way” or “to any degree.”
- *“However you slice the cake, save me the corner piece.”*
(No slicing method changes the demand for that frosting corner.)
Where people trip up:
- Punctuation: If you drop “however” mid-sentence, hug it with commas.
- *“I wanted to go out, however, my bank account said, ‘Stay home.’”*
- Starting a sentence: Pop a comma after it.
- *“However, let’s agree pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza.”*
Fancy alternatives?
- “Nevertheless”: For when you want to sound like a TED Talk.
*“It rained all day. Nevertheless, the wedding was magical.”*
- “On the other hand”: Best for comparing two choices.
*“I hate crowds. On the other hand, free concert tickets are tempting.”*
Pro tip: In essays or emails, “however” makes you sound thoughtful. But don’t overdo it—sprinkle it like confetti, not dump the whole bag.
Real-life practice:
1. Text your friend: *“I’m exhausted. However, I’ll still watch your dog this weekend.”*
2. Email your boss: *“The project hit a snag. However, we’re brainstorming fixes!”*