Here's the breakdown:
When a semicolon is correct after "however":
* When "however" introduces a closely related independent clause. Think of it as two sentences joined together for a stronger, more cohesive connection.
* Example: *The weather was terrible; however, the game went on.*
When a semicolon is incorrect after "however":
* When "however" introduces a dependent clause. A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and needs an independent clause to complete its meaning.
* Incorrect example: *The weather was terrible; however, even though the game went on, it was a miserable experience.* (The second part after "however" is a dependent clause.)
* When "however" is followed by a conjunctive adverb. Conjunctive adverbs like "therefore," "nevertheless," and "moreover" often follow "however" but do not need a semicolon.
* Incorrect example: *The weather was terrible; however, therefore, the game went on.*
Alternatives to a semicolon after "however":
* Comma: *The weather was terrible, however, the game went on.* (Use this when the two clauses are closely related but don't require the strong connection of a semicolon.)
* Period: *The weather was terrible. However, the game went on.* (Use this if the two clauses are more independent and can stand alone as separate sentences.)
In summary:
Use a semicolon after "however" when the following clause is an independent clause and the two clauses are closely related in meaning. Otherwise, consider a comma, period, or rephrase your sentence.