ShmoopTube

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Here's your Shmoop du jour, brought to you by coconuts.

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Early explorers were disappointed to discover no chocolate inside.

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Check out the passage. Read it.

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How would you correct this underlined segment from the passage, if at all?

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classification however

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And here are the potential answers:

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The key to getting this question right is knowing that "however" is a conjunctive adverb.

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It's the job of conjunctive adverbs to relate the ideas of independent clauses, which are

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clauses that can stand on their own as complete sentences.

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There are very specific rules about how to punctuate when using "however" and other conjunctive

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adverbs, like "nevertheless," "thus," and "consequently."

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If we don't follow these rules, we usually end up with run-on sentences, which is no bueno.

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For example, we can eliminate choice (A) for not using any punctuation at all.

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We can't go around slapping independent clauses together without using punctuation.

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If we did, all compound sentences would be run-ons, thoughts and ideas would mush together,

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nobody would know what anyone else was saying, and society would descend into anarchy.

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We think it's best to avoid such things, so we'll nix (A) before it causes any more trouble.

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Choice (D) does a little bit better by placing a comma after "however."

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It is always necessary to place a comma after a conjunctive adverb, whether it's connecting

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two independent clauses, or kicking off an individual sentence.

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However, comma, choice (D) still turns this sentence into a run-on by not placing any

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punctuation before the word "however."

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Therefore, comma, we'll get rid of it before chaos ensues.

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Like (D), choice (C) correctly places a comma after "however."

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It veers off the road, though, when it places a comma before the conjunctive adverb. If

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we want to use a conjunctive adverb to join two independent clauses, it's always necessary

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to use a semicolon.

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Commas just don't cut it, and neither does choice (C).

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The only option that correctly punctuates the sentence is (B).

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Here, a comma follows "however," and a period divides the two independent clauses.

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At long last, we're safe from the danger of run-ons.

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At least for now...

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