IELTS Grammar: 'however' and 'whereas'

 You can't use 'however' and 'whereas' in the same way. Follow these general rules in order to avoid grammar mistakes:

Use 'however' (followed by a comma) at the beginning of a sentence to contrast with the previous sentence:

• Some people believe that schools are responsible for the behaviour of their students. However, others argue that discipline is the responsibility of parents.

Use 'whereas' (after a comma) to contrast two ideas in the same sentence:

• Some people believe that schools are responsible for the behaviour of their students, whereas others argue that discipline is the responsibility of parents.

You can use 'on the other hand' or 'by contrast' in the same way as 'however'. You can use 'while' instead of 'whereas'.