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semicolon

can we use a semi-colon after however?

Re: semicolon

No is the simple answer. A semicolon is usually used to separate two main clauses, as in "All students had to take a language; Sue took French".

But the main use of "however" is as a connective adjunct where it appears in a main clause, either at the beginning where it is followed by a comma, or elsewhere where it is followed and/or preceded by a comma:

That is probably true. However, we should consider some alternatives.

Liz is good at history. My friend Ed, however, is good at mathematics.

I like Chinese food; eating raw fish is not my thing, however.

There are a few other uses of "however", but none of them involve it being followed by a semicolon.

PaulM