at least however

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at least however" is not correct and does not work well in written English.
It is a contradictory expression, as "at least" suggests a minimum or positive aspect, while "however" introduces a contrast or exception. Example: "At least however, we managed to finish the project on time despite the challenges."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

At least, however, The Beauty Myth was mostly well-researched.

The Guardian

So far at least, however, no mass exodus has begun.

The Washington Post

At least, however, we finally got to see some actual debating.

The Guardian - Opinion

At least, however, he'll be less of a distraction next season.

The Guardian - Sport

At least, however, it is pretending to be friendly to business.

The Economist

At least, however, they look set to draw some lessons from it all.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

At the least, however, the present study supports the view that var.

Annals of Botany

At the very least, however, we should realize what's happening.

The New York Times

But at least Ross, however vaguely, knows who they are.

Independent

At least symbolically, however, China continues to play up its noncompetitive tradition.

The New Yorker

At least initially, however, it was Lane who shaped the narratives and polished the prose.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "at least however" in formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "however, at least" or "but at least" for better clarity and flow.

Common error

Be mindful of how often you use contradictory phrases. Overusing "at least however" or similar constructions can make your writing sound hesitant and unclear. Vary your sentence structure for a smoother reading experience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at least however" functions as a connector, attempting to link two clauses while expressing a contrast or qualification. As Ludwig AI points out, it's often considered contradictory due to the combination of "at least", which suggests a minimum, and "however", which introduces a contrast.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

24%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at least however" attempts to connect contrasting ideas, but it often falls short due to its inherent contradiction. Ludwig AI indicates that it's considered grammatically incorrect. Although relatively common, especially in news and media, its awkwardness suggests opting for clearer alternatives. "However, at least" or "but at least" offer better sentence flow and readability. While usage examples exist, mindful writers should prioritize clarity and precision over potentially confusing connectors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however, at least

Reorders the phrase for a more conventional flow, placing "however" at the beginning.

but at least

Inverts the structure to emphasize the positive aspect after acknowledging a negative one.

at least though

Replaces "however" with "though", offering a slightly less formal contrast.

at the very least

Emphasizes a minimum requirement or expectation, removing the direct contrast.

even so

Introduces a contrast while acknowledging a previous statement.

nevertheless

Offers a strong contrast while maintaining a formal tone.

nonetheless

Similar to "nevertheless" but can sometimes feel slightly less emphatic.

at any rate

Provides a general phrase for indicating a summary or conclusion despite previous issues.

yet

Provides a concise way to introduce a contrasting idea.

at the least

Focuses solely on the minimum aspect, removing the contrasting element.

FAQs

How can I rephrase a sentence using "at least however" to improve its clarity?

Consider splitting the sentence or using a different conjunction. Instead of "At least however, we finished on time", try "We faced challenges; "however, at least" we finished on time" or "We finished on time, but it was not easy".

Is "at least however" grammatically correct?

While you might find it in some contexts, "at least however" is often considered awkward. It combines a phrase suggesting a minimum with a contrasting connector, which can create an unclear or contradictory meaning. Using "however, at least" resolves this issue.

What are some alternatives to "at least however" that provide a similar meaning?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "but at least", "at the very least", or simply "however".

Which is a better way to structure my sentence: "At least however, X happened" or "However, at least X happened"?

"However, at least X happened" generally flows better and is more grammatically sound. It separates the contrasting element (however) from the minimum qualification ("at least"), making the sentence easier to understand.