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Does the following use of "how" sound OK?

We must cut costs how we can.

I will decorate the room how I want.

I'd appreciate your help.

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    I will decorate the room however I want to (either repeat the main verb or just leave to). However is more formal and stronger, too.
    – Lambie
    Commented Jun 11, 2018 at 14:58
  • While not sounding quite natural (in particular the first sentence), I will note that they are still completely understandable.
    – Jason Bassford
    Commented Jun 11, 2018 at 15:06

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Compare:

We must cut costs in ways we can.

We must cut costs how we can.

We must cut costs in whatever way we can.

We must cut costs however we can.

ever expands the ambit of the cost-cutting measures to include all possible ways. The versions without ever do not exclude anything; ever simply makes explicit the notion that every option is on the table for consideration.

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