Possible interactions of punctuation marks with the word "however" in a novel?

Question

When using the word **"however"** in my story, I feel like using a semicolon before it disrupts the flow of words in the readers head too much.So, is the usage of a comma or semicolon necessary in front of the word **"however"**?This is the sentence I'm dealing with> Contrary to first opinions; however, the school was public and cost nothing to enter. I'm trying to make these descriptions sound like a narrator was speaking in normal everyday dialogue, where we normally wouldn't pause before saying **"however"**. So, despite usage of a comma before **"however"** in an essay etc, is it OK to skip it in a novel?

Answer 1

The punctuation for conjunctive adverbs (or adverbs that connect ideas, like conjunctions do) like however depends on their usage in the sentence. A semi-colon and comma will be used if there are two independent clauses being connected. For example:

It was raining outside; however, she still took the dog for a walk.

In this case, It was raining outside is an independent clause, as is she still took the dog for a walk. In other words, each of these clauses can stand on its own. Semi-colons, like periods, are used to connect two independent clauses.

On the other hand, if the conjunctive adverb is being used as a transition word in a sentence, it will be set off with commas. For instance:

It was raining outside. Jill was, however, dry on her walk because she brought an umbrella.

In this case, however is functioning as an interrupter rather than a connector of independent clauses. In this case, we surround it with commas to indicate the interruption.

In the example you've provided, then, the correct punctuation would be as follows:

Contrary to first opinions, however, the school was public and cost nothing to enter.

This is because however is functioning as an interrupter, as in the second example.