Comma Before or After However | Explanation & Examples

Published on June 5, 2024 by Tom Challenger, BA Revised on January 13, 2025

When the word however is used to mean “but”, it is functioning as a conjunctive adverb.

To decide how to use commas with however when it is used like this, you need to think about its position in the sentence or clause.

Examples: Comma before or after however
Start of sentence/clause Inflation is relatively high. However, other economic signs are positive.
Inflation is relatively high; however, other economic signs are positive.
Middle of sentence/clause Inflation is relatively high. Other economic signs, however, are positive.
End of sentence/clause Inflation is relatively high. Other economic signs are positive, however.
Note
We have to think about similar considerations to decide whether to use a comma before “which,” a comma before “such as,” and a comma before “too.”

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Evaluating Sources | Approaches & Examples

Published on May 30, 2024 by Tom Challenger, BA Revised on December 18, 2024

Identifying good sources will improve the quality of your research. Systematically evaluating the sources you’re thinking about using will help you to:

  • Select relevant and credible sources
  • Determine the quality of the arguments they present

When evaluating sources, it’s important to keep your research question clearly in mind and practice critical thinking.

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Subordinating Conjunctions | Examples & List

Published on May 30, 2024 by Tom Challenger, BA Revised on July 9, 2025

A subordinating conjunction introduces a dependent clause in order to link it to an independent clause.

Subordinating conjunctions express a variety of meanings, and they often comprise more than one word.

Meaning Subordinating conjunction examples
Condition I’ll do the report for you as long as you help me with the proposal.
Time He only suggested it after I mentioned it at the meeting.
Purpose Put your keys in your bag now so that you don’t forget them.
Place We can meet wherever it is most convenient for you.
Contrast Despite the fact that I reminded her twice, she still forgot my book.

Subordinating conjunctions are also sometimes called subordinate conjunctions or subordinators.
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Anytime vs Any Time | Meaning & Examples

Published on May 30, 2024 by Tom Challenger, BA Revised on October 2, 2024

Anytime and any time are pronounced in the same way but used to express different grammatical meanings.

  • Anytime (written as one word) is an adverb that means “whenever.” It also functions as a subordinating conjunction to mean “whenever.”
  • Any time (two separate words) functions as a noun phrase that means “any amount of time.” It can also be used as part of the prepositional phrase “at any time” to mean “at an unpredictable time” or “whenever.”
Examples: Anytime in a sentence Examples: Any time in a sentence
We can meet anytime on monday.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch anytime.

Anytime I want to do my washing, someone is using the machine.

 I don’t have any time to help you this week.

The pipe could burst at any time.

You can use the library at any time.

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Coordinating Conjunctions | Examples, Meaning & List

Published on May 15, 2024 by Tom Challenger, BA Revised on October 30, 2024

A coordinating conjunction is a type of conjunction used to connect two words, phrases or clauses that are grammatically equal. There are seven coordinating conjunctions in the English language. You can remember these using the mnemonic FANBOYS: “for,” “and,” “nor,” “but,” “or,” “yet,” and “so.”

These words can have other functions, but “and,” “but,” and “or” are mainly used as coordinating conjunctions.

Coordinating conjunctions indicate the relationship between the elements they connect, such as addition (“and”), contrast (“but”), choice (“or”), and result (“so”).

Knowing about coordinating conjunctions helps us to use commas correctly.

Coordinating conjunction examples
He doesn’t like fish and chips.

The film was good but very long.

Do you want still or sparkling water?

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Everyone vs Every One | Difference & Examples

Published on May 15, 2024 by Tom Challenger, BA Revised on October 29, 2024

Everyone does not mean the same as every one. They are often confused because they contain the same words, which are pronounced in the same way but stressed differently.

  • Everyone (written as one word) means “everybody.” It is an indefinite pronoun.
  • Every one (written as two words) combines with “of” to mean “all of.”
Examples: Everyone in a sentence Examples: Every one in a sentence
Everyone has to take language courses in their freshman year.

Did everyone attend the meeting?

 Every one of her books has been a bestseller.

The presents were great; she loved every one of them.

The stress falls on the first syllable when pronouncing the word everyone: ev-ry-one (i.e., “one” is not stressed).

But because every one is two separate words, there is some stress on both words: ev-ry one.

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Everyday vs Every Day | What’s the Difference?

Published on May 15, 2024 by Tom Challenger, BA Revised on June 25, 2025

Use the word everyday if you mean “ordinary,” but the phrase every day if you mean “each day.”

  • Everyday (one word) is an adjective meaning “ordinary” or “normal” (e.g., “The movie’s about an everyday guy who becomes a hero”).
  • Every day (two words) is an adverbial phrase meaning “each day” or “daily” (e.g., “I have an egg for breakfast every day”).
Everyday vs every day examples
Everyday in a sentence Every day in a sentence
The archaeologists discovered many everyday items. Musicians have to practice every day.
Mobile phones have become an important part of our everyday lives. The course was boring because every day we did the same thing.

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will show if you’re using everyday or every day incorrectly in your writing.

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