However

Do not use the word however to connect two separate sentences—this is not possible. For example, the following sentence is incorrect:

Leather shoes are expensive however they will last a long time if we take care of them properly.

There are two possible corrections:

Leather shoes are expensive. However, they will last a long time if we take care of them properly.
Leather shoes are expensive; however, they will last a long time if we take care of them properly.

Notice that we use however as a transitional phrase at or near the beginning of a sentence. We also use it after a semicolon (;) to introduce a contrasting idea.

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Transitional phrase problem

One student recently wrote an essay that contained four body paragraphs. Here’s how each paragraph began:

Body paragraph 1: To begin with, performance-enhancing drugs...
Body paragraph 2: If harmful drugs were allowed in sports...
Body paragraph 3: Second, while it is true that athletes...
Body paragraph 4: Finally, there are ethical implications...

Do you see what the problem is? Here’s a hint: transitional phrases. One potential problem is that the second paragraph doesn’t begin with a transitional phrase. The main problem, however, is that the writer begins the third paragraph with the transitional phrase second. (Second should be used to introduce the writer’s second main point, not the third one.) It’s essential that transitional phrases are used in the proper order. Correct is this:

Body paragraph 1: To begin with, performance-enhancing drugs...
Body paragraph 2: Second of all, if harmful drugs were allowed in sports...
Body paragraph 3: Third, while it is true that athletes...
Body paragraph 4: Finally, there are ethical implications...

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Transitional phrases at the beginning of topic sentences

A topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph in the essay body. When you write a topic sentence, try to begin with a transitional phrase. Here are some examples that you can use at the beginning of your first topic sentence:

first of all, first and foremost, for starters, in the first place, for one thing, to begin with.

Here are some possible transitions for the second topic sentence:

second, second of all, more importantly, another key point is that…