One of the most “insidious” words is “however”, in which a comma is sometimes placed or not, so writers often doubt where to put a comma and whether it is needed at all. To decide whether the word “however” is separated by commas or not, you must first understand what syntactic role this word plays in this case, whether it is an introductory word, a conjunction or an interjection.

The word “however” is separated by commas

On both sides

1. If this is an introductory word (it can be rearranged or completely eliminated without loss of meaning, replaced with a synonymous introductory “nevertheless”), then it is separated by commas on both sides.

• The boat to Borisovo, however, has not yet arrived.
• We were all, however, very cold and hungry.

2. An interjection is formed either with commas on both sides, or with an exclamation mark (if it is at the beginning of a phrase; depending on the intonation); it can be replaced with another interjection, for example “wow”.

• Look, however, what a wind!
• Oh, but it’s already two o’clock! (However! It’s already two hours!)

Before the word

1. People often remember that a comma is not placed at the beginning of a sentence after “however,” but we have seen that this is possible if we have an interjection (that is, just an emotional exclamation). A comma is not used if we have a conjunction synonymous with “but”. Indeed, it often appears at the beginning of a sentence or at the beginning of a complex part. A comma after “however” is not needed in this case.

• We were walking, but it was already very late, and we went home (can be replaced with the conjunction “but”)
• It was already very late, but we did not go home, but to the park (can be replaced with the conjunction “but”).

2. Only a comma is placed before the introductory word “however” if it is at the beginning of a separate phrase.

In ancient times, texts were written without punctuation marks, and there were no spaces between words. The need for “hooks and squiggles” arose during the development of printing. Ten punctuation marks were introduced into the texts gradually.

The period was the first to be introduced in the 11th century. At first it was placed between words and groups of words, but not at the bottom of the line, but in the middle. The period, as the ancestor of punctuation, was immortalized in the names of other punctuation marks, although the ellipsis, for example, appeared only in the 18th century thanks to Karamzin.

By the way, the exclamation point was first called the surprise point, and the question mark was called the interrogative point.

Comma began to be used only in the 15th century. According to linguists, the word “comma” comes from the verb comma (sya) - to hook (sya), to touch. V.I. Dal puts it in the same root row with the verbs “wrist”, “comma”, “stammer” (stop, delay).

The role of a comma is to pause the story, but not to end it., as a period does, and do not break off the thought, like an ellipsis. Its importance can hardly be overestimated if we recall the famous phrase: “Execution cannot be pardoned”.

In the Russian language there are many rules regarding commas, but the main functions of a comma are to list and separate (one part from another, primary from secondary, main from additional).

Let's remember the main cases of placing commas

And to make reading the rules on how to put commas entertaining, catchphrases will serve as examples. I wasn’t able to find interesting quotes for all the rules, so let’s pick them together.

Suggest your options in the comments. :)

1. Commas highlight references

2. Words-sentences “yes”, “no” and interjections are highlighted with a comma

3. Commas highlight introductory words and sentences

These are words such as: of course, undoubtedly, obviously, certainly, of course, probably, perhaps, maybe, it seems, perhaps, in fact, really, we must believe, I think, I hope, I believe, etc.

♦ An introductory word or sentence can be removed, and the meaning will not change.

— May be, Do we really want to go for a ride?
Ilya Ilf, Evgeny Petrov “Golden Calf”

♦ Introductory words must be distinguished from sentence members. Members of a sentence cannot be removed.

This May be profitable (sentence member).

♦ “However” and punctuation marks.

A common mistake is using a comma after “however” where it is not needed.

Let's figure it out. The presence of commas after an insidious word depends on the role it plays in the sentence.

However (however w/zhe) can be a conjunction, an interjection, and an introductory word.

A. However - a conjunction meaning “but”.

No comma needed.

B. However - interjection.

Used with exclamatory intonation to express strong surprise or indignation. Separated by a comma or presented as a separate sentence.

However! I feel like you drank port after the vodka! For mercy's sake, is it really possible to do this!
Mikhail Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita"

B. However, the introductory word (in the meaning of opposition) is separated by commas (on both sides).

We take other people's thoughts and knowledge for storage, that's all. However, you need to make them your own.
Michel de Montaigne

There is, however, an idea in your nonsense!
Mikhail Lermontov "Hero of Our Time"

Important! The introductory word “however” cannot appear at the beginning of a sentence. A comma after the word “however” at the beginning of a sentence is possible only when “however” is followed by a separate phrase.

However, when he opened his eyes, he saw that nothing had changed.

Opening your eyes - participial phrase.

Of course, being determines consciousness. This is the rule. However, fortunately, as an exception, but quite often it happens that consciousness is ahead of being. Otherwise we would still be sitting in caves.
Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
"Burden with Evil, or Forty Years Later"

Fortunately is an introductory word.

So, today we looked at the main cases of placing a comma with introductory words, interjections, yes-no sentence words, and also with the word however.

Are you using commas correctly? Try to choose 2-3 examples for each rule. Write in the comments below or send by email. This will be great literacy practice!

Svetlana Kravtsova, editor, proofreader, blog author « »

P.S. I wrote this article in 2016 for the Mamawriter.ru project, where I was the curator of training for aspiring copywriters.

Answered by Yesenia Pavlotski, linguist-morphologist, expert at the Institute of Philology, Mass Information and Psychology of Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University.

However, he is a record holder for incorrect isolation. We can only compete with him “finally” and “really”. The secret is that in most cases after “ however" You shouldn’t put a comma, but let’s look at them all in order.

First of all, it’s worth saying that commas are often put “just in case” and instead of pauses. There is such a belief: it’s better to put in an extra one than not to put in at all. The more commas, the more literate you are! However, this is not true: an extra comma is the same mistake as its absence in the right place. And, by the way, punctuation has an indirect relation to pauses.

But it has a direct relation to grammar - that is, to morphology and syntax. It is they who dictate their correct positions to commas.

Let's look at this using the example of the word “ however". The placement of a comma after it depends on its morphological status in the context. In other words, we need to understand what part of speech is in front of us and what meaning the word conveys.

Most often the word “ however" functions in context as a conjunction. “ However" = "But". In this case, the comma is not needed. Example: “We expected it to rain today and we wouldn’t be able to go for a walk. However, the weather is good, the sun is shining!”

The word “is extremely rare” however" occurs as a modal (introductory) word. Introductory words are called modal because they convey modality - they express the speaker’s attitude to the content of speech. For example: “I probably won’t be able to come to your birthday.” Here the word “probably” expresses uncertainty in what the person claims. And he unconsciously adds this uncertainty to the statement in order to soften it. Modal words always convey the “second layer” of an utterance. And there are quite a lot of them, but the word “ however" with such functionality is now more common in classical literature than in modern language. Look at the connotation of this sentence and how outdated it seems: “I am glad, however, that I recognized you, Karamazov.” It is not opposition that is expressed, but meaning “despite everything, still”.

More " however" can be an interjection and is also most often found in classical literature. Usually accompanied by an exclamation or ellipsis, does not involve a comma and conveys the meaning of “wow!”

You may also see a comma after “ however” meaning “but”, if it is adjacent to an isolated turnover further in the construction: “However, as is well known, Mendeleev placed the elements in order of increasing atomic weight.” Here the comma refers to “as is well known.”

Verbs, names and adverbs in a sentence can act as introductory words, which in one way or another - grammatically, lexically, intonation - express the speaker’s attitude to what he is reporting.

Compare two sentences:

This question, it seemed made it difficult for the guest.

Face his it seemed calm.

In both examples the word is used it seemed , but only in the second case is this word included in the members of the sentence: there it is part of a compound nominal predicate.

In the first example the word it seemed serves only to express the speaker’s attitude towards what he is reporting. Such words are called introductory words; they are not part of the sentence and can easily be omitted, for example: This question... made the guest difficult. Please note that in the second sentence, skip the word it seemed impossible.

Compare some more examples in the table:

Many words can be used as introductions. But there is a group of words that are never introductory. Read two sentences:

There will obviously be a good harvest this year;
There will certainly be a good harvest this year.

The first sentence uses the word obviously, in the second – certainly . Although these words are very close in meaning, only the word from the first sentence is separated by commas and is introductory. The words presented below need to be remembered: they are very similar to introductory ones, but they are not commas are not separated:

PERHAPS, SUDDENLY, SUDDENLY, SO, HARDLY, STILL, EVEN, EXACTLY, AS IF, JUST, CAREFULLY, MANDATORY, ALMOST, ONLY, ALLEGEDLY.

Introductory words can convey five different types of meaning:

Most often, with the help of introductory words, the speaker conveys various degree of confidence in what he reports. For example: You will undoubtedly do well on the exam. or It seems like you need to study more. This group includes the words:

OF COURSE, OF COURSE, UNDOUBTEDLY, UNDOUBTEDLY, WITHOUT A DOUBT, UNCONDITIONALLY, ACTUALLY, SEEMED, PROBABLY, POSSIBLY, POSSIBLY.

Introductory words can also convey feelings and attitude speaker to what he is communicating. For example: Unfortunately, you did not pass the exam very well.

UNFORTUNATELY, UNHAPPYLY, SURPRISINGLY, UNFORTUNATELY.

Sometimes introductory words indicate on The source of information, which is reported by the speaker. Introductory phrases in this case begin with the words BY MESSAGE, BY WORDS, BY OPINION. For example: According to doctors, you need to stop training for a while.

The source of the message can also be the speaker himself (IN MY OPINION, IN MY OPINION) or the source can be uncertain (THE SAY IS HEARD). For example: They say you will have to stop training.

ACCORDING TO THE MESSAGE, ACCORDING TO WORDS, ACCORDING TO OPINION, ACCORDING TO RUMORS, SAYING, HEARD, IN MY OPINION, IN MY OPINION, IN YOUR OPINION.

Introductory words are also used For organizing thoughts and indications of their connections with each other. For example: Firstly, this participle was formed from a perfective verb; secondly, it has dependent words. Therefore, it must contain two letters N.

FIRSTLY, SECONDLY, THIRDLY, FINALLY, CONSEQUENTLY, MEAN, SO, OPPOSITE, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE CONVERSE.

There are also sentences where introductory words indicate on way of organizing thoughts. For example: In a word, everything went well.

IN OTHERWISE, IN ONE WORD, IT IS BETTER TO SAY, TO SPEAK SOFTLY.

Introductory words also include words that serve to attract attention interlocutor:

YOU KNOW (KNOW), UNDERSTAND (UNDERSTAND), LISTEN (LISTEN), SEE (SEE) and others.

These same meanings can be expressed not only by introductory words, but also by similar predicative constructions (introductory sentences). Compare: The snowfall will probably end soon And The snowfall, I think, will end soon. In addition to commas, parentheses or dashes can be used to highlight introductory sentences. This is done when the introductory construction is very common and contains additional comments or explanations. For example:

We're passing through our village once, years ago - how can I tell you without lying - about fifteen years old. (Turgenev)
Alexei (the reader already recognized him) Meanwhile, he gazed intently at the young peasant woman. (Pushkin)

The rule for separating introductory words and sentences has several very important notes.

If the introductory word is preceded by the conjunction A or BUT, then a comma is not always placed between the introductory word and the conjunction. Compare a couple of sentences:
The doctor finished the appointment but of course, will look at a seriously ill patient.
He gave his word and consequently, must restrain him.

The introductory word can be rearranged or removed without a conjunction only in the first case, therefore a comma is required between the introductory word and the conjunction. It is impossible to do this in the second sentence, which means there is no comma.

Very often difficulties arise in sentences with the words HOWEVER and FINALLY. The word HOWEVER is highlighted only when it cannot be replaced by the conjunction BUT. Compare two sentences:
However we understand that this figure is still low(HOWEVER = BUT) . Bye, however, we don't yet have a clear picture of what's happening(HOWEVER – introductory word) .

The word FINALLY is introductory only when it does not have a spatial or temporal meaning, but indicates the order of thoughts. For example:
I hope that in the near future this project finally will be implemented. AND, finally, The last thing I would like to draw your attention to.

Introductory words can begin a separate construction, for example, a clarifying phrase. In this case, a comma is not placed after the introductory word (in other words, the comma, which was supposed to “close” the introductory word, is moved to the end of the separate phrase).

I saw, or rather felt, that she was not indifferent to me.

In addition, a comma is not placed before an introductory word located at the end of a separate phrase.

For the holidays we decided to go somewhere, to Kolomna for example.

If the introductory word is in the middle of a separate construction, then it is separated by commas on a common basis.

I decided to declare my love, feeling, it seems, in my heart that she was not indifferent to me.


If introductory words are located before a phrase beginning with the words “how” or “so that,” then they are separated by commas.

The day she lived seemed meaningless to her, in fact, like all life.
He thought for a moment, probably, to find the right words.

Exercise

1. The portraits hung opposite the mirror.
2. On the contrary, he didn’t even change his face.
3. On the one hand_ I completely agree with you.
4. On one side, the coin depicted a double-headed eagle.
5. The truth is always better than a lie.
6. I_really_ was somewhat surprised by this news.
7. In spring_possible_flooding.
8. There may be a flood in the spring.
9. Everyone in our city is already talking about this.
10. In Greece_ they say_ everything is there.
11. Maybe you deigned to express yourself this way for the beauty of the style? (Gogol).
12. According to weather forecasters, it will be colder next week.
13. As scientists say, global warming awaits us.
14. The train leaves in an hour_ therefore_ we need to leave the house.
15. Fortunately_ Pechorin was deep in thought (Lermontov).
16. We have gathered here_first_to resolve the issue of the timing of the work.
17. He didn’t want to shoot himself - thank God - he didn’t want to try... (Pushkin).
18. Of course_ you have seen the district young lady’s album (Pushkin) more than once.
19. In one word, you got off easy.
20. So_ now we can draw a conclusion.
21. “You don’t bother me at all,” he objected, “if you please, shoot yourself, but as you please; your shot remains behind you; I am always ready at your service (Pushkin).
22. She suffered for a very long time after separation, but as you know, time heals any wounds.
23. The wind, however, was strong.
24. Fedya brought flowers_ however_ Masha didn’t like it.
25. A strong, yet warm wind blew through the window.
26. A good upbringing, as we know, can be achieved in boarding schools (Gogol).
27. However_ there are various improvements and changes in methods... (Gogol).
28. You_ definitely_ should come to us.
29. I took the ace of hearts from the table, as I remember now, and threw it up (Lermontov).
30. However, General Khvalynsky himself did not like to talk about his career; He seems to have never been to war (Turgenev).
31. You will become wild_ you know_ if you live locked up all the time (Gogol).
32. He was probably a grateful person and wanted to pay for his good treatment.
33. You supposedly had to come to his office and report on the trip.
34. Yes_ I confess_ I thought so myself.
35. I still decided to do it my own way.
36. Ivan Petrovich, you know, was an extraordinary man.
37. Nobody, of course, went to see him (Turgenev).
38. Gleb, as far as I knew, studied well at the Bryansk gymnasium (Paustovsky).
39. But perhaps the reader is already tired of sitting with me at Ovsyannikov’s house, and therefore I eloquently fall silent (Turgenev).
40. My arrival—I could have noticed it—at first somewhat confused the guests.
41. However_ the political process began to develop in a different way.
42. In my last report, I hastened to inform you that we finally managed to solve this problem.
43. The experiences of transformations that happened around us had, without a doubt, a strong influence on the thoughts of the majority of people involved in them (M. M. Speransky).
44. A group of border guards led by an officer approached the violators with the intention, as had happened before, to protest and demand that they leave the territory.
45. Finalization of the agreement will probably take several more months.
46. Secondly, there are a lot of abuses in the field of international tourism.
47. However, if we remain committed to the spirit and letter of this document, it could not have been otherwise.
48. We all know well, and everyone here knows well, that on the western, or as they say, the second front, about 1.5 million Allied troops and about 560 thousand German troops were concentrated.
49. This modest, symbolic gesture seems to me to be full of deep meaning.
50. Fortunately, the examples mentioned above are the exception, not the rule.
51. Increased baggage value may be claimed for certain types of items.
52. The reason for this is obvious: when the mind begins to recognize the price of freedom, it dismisses with carelessness all the children's toys, so to speak, with which it amused itself in its infancy (M. M. Speransky).
53. Pravda_ spoke to me politely, did not force me to do anything, and I remember having the impression that he did not look at all these accusations seriously.
54. But in our case, the truth quickly came out, and we were soon released.

There is no clear answer to this question. What punctuation marks are placed in a sentence where the word “however” is present depends entirely on the context of the sentence itself. There can be three spelling options.

When the word "however" in a sentence is:

1. Introductory word,
2. Union,
3. Interjection.

Introductory word.

As you know, the introductory word in a sentence should always be separated by commas or sometimes other punctuation marks, such as a dash or other punctuation marks. An introductory word is introductory because it is not a part of the sentence. Without difficulty, the introductory word can be removed from the text, since it only reflects the emotional attitude of the author of the lines or spoken speech to what is being said. And the meaning of the story itself will not change in any way if we remove these emotional colors that do not carry a semantic connection with other members of the sentence.

Thus, if, according to the context, the word “however” is only an emotional insertion into the context, which can be removed without violating the semantic logic, then commas must be placed on both sides of the word, because as an introductory word “however” is always found in the middle of the sentence , well, sometimes it can be at the end.

Examples:

• For now, however, we do not understand what is happening.
• The weather, however, was rainy and windy.
• How she tricked me, however!
• The man, however, did not even look at us.

Union.

The word “however” can be a member of a sentence, while performing the function of a conjunction. A conjunction, as you know, is an auxiliary part of speech that serves to connect words in a sentence or components of a complex sentence. That is, performing this function, the word “however” can be located at the very beginning of a sentence, or between parts of a complex sentence, linking them together. In this case, it must be borne in mind that as a conjunction the word “however” has the same meaning as “but”.

That is, if we can replace the word “however” in a sentence with the word “but”, then this is a conjunction and the punctuation rules are as follows. If the conjunction “however” is at the beginning of the sentence, then no commas are placed. If “however” connects the constituent parts of a sentence and is in its middle, then a comma must be placed before the word, and no comma is necessary after it.

Examples:

• However, lunch was served very late.
• This is very unpleasant, but does not change anything.
• The sun came out from behind the clouds, but the wind continued.

Interjection.

Interjections are words that serve us to express some strong emotions or

exclamations. The word “however” can be such an exclamation in a sentence. In this case, it must be separated by punctuation marks.