Conventions of Composition Rule 57 Practice

1. Wrong: However she decides to finish this game Hotchkiss will certainly win.

Better: However she decides to finish this game, Hotchkiss will certainly win.

Explanation: Here, however is being used to open an introductory adverbial clause, so the clause needs to be followed by a comma. (see rule 11)

2. Wrong: We wanted to go in fact we had already bought our tickets.

Better: We wanted to go; in fact, we had already bought our tickets.

Explanation: In fact can't join these two sentences as a conjunction would, so it needs to be preceded by a semicolon.

3. Wrong: Mr. Bradley would love to give holidays more frequently however he knows the importance of patience.

Better: Mr. Bradley would love to give holidays more frequently; however, he knows the importance of patience.

Explanation: The conjunctive adverb however can't combine two independent clauses as a conjunction could.

4. Wrong: The shoes weren't my size I tried however to shove my feet into them.

Better: The shoes weren't my size; I tried, however, to shove my feet into them.

Explanation: The first independent clause ends after size. The however in the middle of an independent clause needs to be separated on both sides with commas.