however began

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "however began" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be a fragment that lacks clarity and context, making it difficult to determine its intended meaning. Example: "The project was challenging; however, it began to show promising results."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Its woes, however, began much earlier.

The Economist

This particular seminar's discussions, however, began awkwardly.

The New Yorker

That cultural schism, however, began to dissolve.

The New York Times - Travel

Other people, however, began to look at him differently.

The Guardian - Sport

Russia, however, began retaliating against Georgia in many ways.

The New York Times

Klinkhamer's writing career, however, began to take off.

The Guardian - Books

The United States of America, however, began their revolution from within.

The Guardian - Music

Mortgage rates, however, began crawling back up in December and January.

The New York Times

Fischer's political activism, however, began years before the advent of same-sex-marriage laws.

The New Yorker

Mr. Maloney, however, began by praising the city and boasting of his own efforts in Congress.

The New York Times

Inflation, however, began to drop, from 250 percent in 1990 to 10 percent in 2000.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to express contrast followed by the commencement of an action, ensure the phrase is grammatically complete. Instead of "however began", use "however, it began" or rephrase entirely for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "however began" as a standalone phrase. It often lacks a subject and can lead to grammatical errors. Always ensure the sentence is complete and clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "however began" functions as a conjunctive adverb introducing a contrast to a preceding statement, followed by the commencement of an action or state. Ludwig AI suggests this phrase is often incomplete or grammatically weak. To enhance clarity and grammatical correctness, it's recommended to ensure the sentence is fully formed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Encyclopedias

14%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

14%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "however began" is frequently found in various sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it is often grammatically incorrect or incomplete. Its function is to introduce a contrast followed by the commencement of an action, typically in a neutral register. For best practices, ensure the sentence is complete and clear, or consider using alternative phrases like "nevertheless commenced" or "yet it started" to avoid ambiguity and grammatical errors. Ludwig's examples reveal a wide array of contexts, emphasizing the need for careful usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nevertheless commenced

Emphasizes the start of something despite a preceding contrast.

nonetheless initiated

Highlights the act of beginning something regardless of previous circumstances.

yet it started

Simple alternative indicating the beginning of an event despite something else.

in spite of that, it started

Explicitly shows the contrast and the subsequent beginning.

despite everything, it commenced

Highlights the beginning in the face of obstacles.

conversely, it got underway

Suggests a start in opposition to something else.

on the contrary, it was initiated

Emphasizes a beginning that contrasts with a previous state.

but it originated

Focuses on the origin or source of something, despite a contrast.

even so, it sprang up

Suggests a sudden or unexpected beginning despite a contrast.

however, the genesis was

More formal and focuses on the initial development or creation.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "however" to indicate the start of something?

Use "however" to introduce a contrast, then clearly state what began. For example, "The project faced challenges; "however it began" to show promising results".

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to "however began"?

Consider alternatives like "nevertheless commenced", "nonetheless initiated", or "yet it started" to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Is "however began" considered grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "however began" is generally considered grammatically weak or incomplete. It's better to use a full sentence or a more precise phrase to avoid ambiguity.

What's the difference between "however, it began" and "still it started"?

"However, it began" introduces a contrast before explaining the commencement of something. "Still it started" also indicates a start despite something, but "still" emphasizes persistence or continuation despite difficulties.