However, in the case of taste. However, is a comma necessary? §1. Sentences with introductory words

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 question 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 comma placement

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.

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.

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.

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.”

However (f/f)

introductory word, conjunction, interjection

1. Introductory word. The same as “nevertheless, nevertheless.” Identified by punctuation marks, usually commas. For details on punctuation for introductory words, see Appendix 2. ()

, however, it was necessary to manipulate public life to achieve such an effect! A. Bitov, Notes of a goy. But, however, I would ask you to move on to the question, otherwise there is little time. L. Andreev, Peace. Well, however, From this, what result does this effort lead to? M. Saltykov-Shchedrin, Christmas story. I'm used to it, because I get used to everything, because I'm a humble person, because I'm a small person; But, however, what is all this for? F. Dostoevsky, Poor people.

2. Union. Same as “but”. The conjunction “however” can appear at the beginning of a sentence; it also connects homogeneous members and parts of a complex sentence. The conjunction “however” is preceded by a comma.

However dinner was late, there were not enough coals, and the fisherman added dry wood to the fire. V. Bykov, Wolf Pit. This is unpleasant for us, however does not change the general rule. V. Korolenko, Paradox. Though Everything in the handwriting looks like something from a dog. N. Gogol, Notes of a Madman. Only although Father Alexander disputed that there are no rumors about the bishop, though I forced him to go to church and put things in order for now. N. Leskov, Bishop's Detours.

3. Interjection. Expresses surprise. It is framed as a separate sentence or highlighted with punctuation marks.

"However, “It’s getting light,” Savchenko agreed. “But in Kuty, the soldering has not yet been cut.” V. Bykov, People's Avengers. Three hundred thousand, however! A. Pisemsky, Predators. However! Three thousand dessiatines! S. Sergeev-Tsensky, Transformation of Russia. Mediocre Regiment Though! And did you endure it? After all, she probably burns. L. Kassil, M. Polyanovsky, Street of the Youngest Son.

@ The introductory word “however” cannot stand at the beginning of a sentence or connect homogeneous members and parts of a complex sentence.

Dictionary-reference book on punctuation. - M.: Reference and information Internet portal GRAMOTA.RU. V. V. Svintsov, V. M. Pakhomov, I. V. Filatova. 2010 .

See what “however (f/w)” is in other dictionaries:

however- however...

though- though … Spelling dictionary-reference book

however- though … Spelling dictionary of the Russian language

HOWEVER- adv. however, west, south. however, but, despite that, with all that; | it seems, it is true, it seems as if, of course. | Sib. It seems, I suppose, it should be. I agree, but with a caveat. Everything is good, but the end is bad. I feel sick though. However… … Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

HOWEVER- 1. union. Same as 1 (in 1 value). Already an old man, oh. cheerful at heart. 2. introductory Nevertheless, still. Always careful, oh, I forgot about my promise. 3. Expression of strong surprise, bewilderment. He is married for the third time. ABOUT.! And yet, the union is the same as... ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary