Use of "However" in Engineering Reports 8

[RFreund]

Do you use "However" in engineering reports? For example...

The water stains indicate that moisture has infiltrated the floor cavity. However, the recent roof repairs may have resolved this issue.
Or
The water stains indicate that moisture has infiltrated the floor cavity. The recent roof repairs may have resolved this issue.

I typically take out the "however". However , it might help make the point that you are a weighing one fact against another.

Thanks

 

[dik]

'Notwithstanding' is a big word in Canada... it's written into our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and effectively voids the entire document, because no one has to follow the charter.

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So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik

 

[phamENG]

To my eye...

Mine, too.

An important thing to consider when talking about grammar - you have to address who, when, and where. "Proper" sentence structure and diction is going to vary whether you're in Georgia, New York, Oregon, British Columbia, Queensland, Scotland, Wales, etc. Many have attempted to fix language in place, and history has proved all of their efforts futile. It took me a long time to come to terms with that - both of my parents worked and I spent a lot of my childhood in the care of my grandmother. As the daughter of well educated immigrants and a university grad herself in the early 40s, she has always pressed the importance of grammar and speech on me (and at 101 and going strong, she still does!).

So long as the language flows and makes sense, I don't worry about it. If somebody is coming off as a self important pedant or uses endless, run-on sentences...that's no good.

 

[Tomfh]

I would write it this way:

The water stains indicate that moisture has infiltrated the floor cavity; however, the recent roof repairs may have resolved this issue.

 

[dik]

and I... "The water stains indicate that moisture has infiltrated the floor cavity; the recent roof repairs, however, may have resolved this issue." It's just another way and to us, the correct way. It's the one we have taught our children to continue with, and hopefully, they will teach theirs. In the Old English Font caligraphy I used to announce the birth of our youngest over 40 years back, I used the term 'yclept'... just my foot in the past. His 'Registration of Live Birth' (he was born at home) was done in Chancery Cursive caligraphy; the form stated to print clearly or something of that ilk. My tagline is a indication of his English skills.


-----*****-----
So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik

 

[Agent666]

However, Diks way sounds weird to me.

Diks way, however, sounds weird to me.

https://engineervsheep.com

 

[JLNJ]

http://wordsbyapro.com/grammar-rules-lesson-however/#.Y2T5EhYpDDt

A nice primer on “however”.

 

[WinelandV]

I have nothing to add about "however" in reports, HOWEVER, this whole thread makes me think of Professor Henry Higgins (or 'enry 'iggins if you're a flower lady):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAYUuspQ6BY

Please note that is a "v" (as in Violin) not a "y".

 

[LittleInch]

I guess "However" is just shorter than writing "on the other hand..." Or at least thinking of that meaning when writing it.

In the OP it really needed something after the first sentence, more like "...floor cavity. This could require repair and replacement of xxx. However, the recent repairs"

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[BAretired]

Water stains indicate that moisture has infiltrated the floor cavity, but recent roof repairs may have resolved this issue....seems more natural.

 

[fel3]

BAretired…

I had a boss a few years ago who had an unnatural dislike of the word "but." During a conversation about a project in which I had used "but" a couple of times, he said something like this to me, "Stop saying 'but.' It sends a negative message and it's jarring to hear. Say 'and' instead." In response I said something like this, "No. There are many cases where 'but' is grammatically correct but 'and' is not. 'But' sets up a counterpoint while 'and' does not. So, when I need to make a counterpoint, I use 'but' or maybe 'however.'" He didn't like my response, but he never bothered me about it again.

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"Is it the only lesson of history that mankind is unteachable?"
--Winston S. Churchill

 

[RFreund]

Some pretty good replies here. Thanks everyone!

 

[BAretired]

fel3...Whenever he heard the word "surely", Leslie Nielsen would say "stop calling me Shirley".

 

[Tomfh]

Yeah I’ve had many a red pen through “but”, replaced instead with “however”

 

[XR250]

I had a boss a few years ago who had an unnatural dislike of the word "but." During a conversation about a project in which I had used "but" a couple of times, he said something like this to me, "Stop saying 'but.' It sends a negative message and it's jarring to hear.

I agree with your former boss and try to keep it out of my lexicon.
There are few situations where "but" cannot be replaced with "and".
Comes across as more positive.

 

[fel3]

XR250…

I disagree. The two words mean different things and have different uses. Sometimes only "but" is correct, sometimes only "and" is correct, and sometimes either one will do. When you need to express a counterpoint, "and" is incorrect, but "but" or "however" is correct.

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"Is it the only lesson of history that mankind is unteachable?"
--Winston S. Churchill

 

[BAretired]

I hope I don't run afoul of the "word" police in my future posts.

 

[Tomfh]

I disagree with generally replacing “but” with “and”. “But” strongly emphasises contrast. “And” leaves it up to the reader to infer the contrast. There are times where as an author you wish to emphasise contrast.

 

[XR250]

Ok, let's look at the OP.

"The water stains indicate that moisture has infiltrated the floor cavity. However, the recent roof repairs may have resolved this issue."

Now replace "however" with "and"

"The water stains indicate that moisture has infiltrated the floor cavity and the recent roof repairs may have resolved this issue"

Sounds better to me.

 

[Denial]

I think I would have gone with:
"The water stains indicate that moisture has infiltrated the floor cavity, although the recent roof repairs may have resolved this issue."
HOWEVER that opens another kettle of worms.

 

[0707]

Lislie Nielsen was a good comedian, I laughed a lot at his jokes, however he played us the prank of having died, rest his soul in peace.