However is usually used to show contrast, and you can place it at the beginning, middle, or (less often) the end of a sentence, with careful punctuation.

Quick Scoop: How to Use “However” in a Sentence

1. Basic meaning

  • However often means “but” and links two contrasting ideas.
  • It can also mean “in whatever way/by whatever means.”

2. Starting a sentence

When “however” introduces a contrast with the previous sentence, you usually put it at the beginning, followed by a comma.

  • Example: “Jessica loves dogs. However, she is allergic to them.”
  • Example: “I got to the airport two hours early. However, my flight was delayed.”

This style is common and perfectly acceptable in modern English, especially in formal or academic writing.

3. Joining two clauses with a semicolon

You can connect two related sentences with a semicolon before “however” and a comma after it.

  • Example: “Kate enjoys eating raw vegetables; however, she doesn’t like them cooked.”
  • Example: “Gavin is tired; however, he still needs to take a bath and brush his teeth.”

This treats “however” as a conjunctive adverb (a transition word) between two complete thoughts.

4. In the middle of a sentence

“However” can also appear mid‑sentence, often set off by commas, to lightly interrupt and signal contrast.

  • Example: “The job seemed exciting at first. Soon, however, it turned out to be dull.”
  • Example: “The team performed well; they faced challenges along the way; however, they remained focused.”

A common style tip is to place “however” as close as possible to what you want to contrast.

5. End of a sentence (less common)

Some writers place “however” at the end of a sentence to soften or qualify what they just said.

  • Example: “It can also be used at the end of a sentence, however.”

This is grammatically possible but feels more conversational or stylistic; it’s less typical in formal academic writing.

6. “However” meaning “in whatever way”

Here “however” does not mean “but,” so the punctuation and feel change.

  • Example: “The chef will cook the eggs however you like them.”
  • Example: “Feel free to rearrange the furniture however you want.”
  • Example: “However you look at it, housing prices don’t seem to be dropping.”

In these cases, you usually do not put a comma after “however” when it starts the clause (“However you look at it…”).

7. Common mistakes to avoid

  • Using a comma instead of a period or semicolon before a contrasting “however” between two full sentences (a comma alone can cause a run‑on).
  • Overusing “however” so the writing feels stiff; often a simple “but” works better in casual or spoken contexts.

A quick fix many teachers suggest: if the punctuation feels tricky, split it into two sentences and start the second with “However,” plus a comma.

TL;DR: Use “however” like a formal “but”: at the beginning of a new sentence (“However, …”), after a semicolon (“; however,”), or mid‑sentence with commas—then, in a different sense, for “in whatever way”: “Do it however you like.”

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.