But for the existence of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "But for the existence of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something would not have happened or been the case if not for the presence of something else. Example: "But for the existence of the safety regulations, the accident could have been much worse."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

But for the existence of Building 20, it would not have been developed at MIT". Professor Halle was one of at least three "five-dot" speakers.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But for the existence of a fixed point of T, we need that (T ( A ) cap Aneqemptyset), otherwise (d ( x,Tx ) >0) for all (xin A).

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

But for the existence of the Global Fund, they would almost certainly have died.

Huffington Post

We will never know if this waste would have been eliminated but for the existence of this lawsuit; we do know, however, that the water was still being wasted at the time this action was commenced.

Cornell University

And that would exhaust the island's claim to musical fame but for the existence of a fabulous exotic garden -- "domain" might be a better word -- that runs in terraces along a valley.

The New York Times - Arts

In 2000, Ken Gronbach, a demographer, hailed the certain arrival of a "Viagra Generation," a demographic of children who would never have been born but for the existence of the drug.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Thirty-seven of these identifications confirm known proteins and for further 34 evidence for transcription, but not for the existence of the corresponding protein, can be found in the literature.

Nature

But in recent years, it seems as if every tragedy comes with a round of yarn-spinning, as the Web fills with stories about "false flag" attacks and "crisis actors" — not mere theorizing but arguments for the existence of a completely alternate version of reality.

The New York Times - Magazine

The protection thereof therefore becomes a sine qua non, not only for the respect, but also for the existence of a being – at least in a socio-legal sense – whom we used to refer to as 'man'.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

Tight junctions (TJs) are essential not only for dividing epidermal cells into apical and basolateral compartments to create cell polarity [8], but also for the existence of skin barrier function by regulating the selective permeability of the paracellular pathway [9] [11].

Plosone

It is important to remember that other seep environmental factors (geologic settings, seep chemistry and flow rates, substrate types) may vary with depth in the regions studied and, as discussed in the next section these factors are critical not only for the types of communities present, but even for the existence of seep macro- and megafauna.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but for the existence of" to clearly establish a cause-and-effect relationship where the absence of something would lead to a different outcome. It emphasizes the critical role of the thing being referenced.

Common error

Avoid using "but for the existence of" when a simpler phrase like "without" or "due to the absence of" suffices. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex or stilted, especially in informal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but for the existence of" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a counterfactual conditional. It sets up a scenario where the absence of something results in a different outcome. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but for the existence of" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to express a counterfactual conditional, indicating that a particular outcome would not have occurred if something else did not exist. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's valid and usable in written English. Although most often the register is formal to neutral, making it suitable for academic, news, and professional writing. Alternatives like "without the existence of" or "if it weren't for the existence of" can provide more concise options. While effective for establishing cause-and-effect relationships, avoid overusing it when simpler phrasing suffices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Were it not for the existence of

This alternative is a more formal and emphatic way of expressing the same conditional relationship.

If it weren't for the existence of

This alternative is a more direct and common way of expressing the conditional relationship.

If not for the existence of

This alternative rephrases the conditional statement in a slightly more direct manner.

Without the existence of

This alternative is a more concise way of expressing the same conditional relationship.

Had it not been for the existence of

This alternative expresses a past conditional relationship, indicating what would not have happened.

Absent the existence of

This alternative provides a more formal and less common way to convey the same meaning.

But for the presence of

The alternative replaces the word "existence" with "presence", slightly altering the focus but maintaining the core meaning.

Except for the existence of

This alternative expresses an exception to a general statement, highlighting the impact of something's existence.

Due to the non-existence of

This alternative focuses on the absence of something, rather than the presence of something else preventing a specific outcome.

But for the fact that

This alternative shifts the focus to a specific fact influencing an outcome, rather than the mere existence of something.

FAQs

How can I use "but for the existence of" in a sentence?

Use "but for the existence of" to indicate that a particular outcome would not have occurred if something else did not exist. For example, "But for the existence of the internet, many remote communities would remain isolated."

What phrases are similar to "but for the existence of"?

You can use alternatives like "without the existence of", "if it weren't for the existence of", or "were it not for the existence of".

Is it always necessary to use "but for the existence of", or are there simpler options?

While "but for the existence of" is grammatically correct, simpler options like "without" or "due to the absence of" can be more concise and suitable in many contexts. Choose the phrasing that best fits the tone and clarity of your writing.

What is the difference between "but for the existence of" and "due to the existence of"?

"But for the existence of" indicates that something would not have happened if something else did not exist (a negative condition). "Due to the existence of" indicates that something did happen because something else exists (a positive cause). They have opposite meanings.