better however

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "better however" is not correct and does not work well in written English.
It is typically used when contrasting two ideas, but the combination is awkward and unclear. Example: "The results were better; however, they still fell short of expectations."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Wells felt much better, however, on Wednesday.

The New York Times - Sports

Not everyone thinks that bigger or cushier is better, however.

The New York Times - Travel

Better, however, were three rolls of freshly made ricotta-stuffed eggplant topped with mozzarella.

The New York Times

This sounded even better, however, before I heard that Millard Fillmore used it first.

The New York Times

The science still shows that lower cholesterol is better, however you achieve it.

The New York Times

It sounds better, however, to posit the show as revisionist rather than retrograde.

The New York Times - Arts

Whether they will be any better, however, is an open question.

The Guardian - Sport

Zara Phillips fared better, however, riding a superb clear round, which elevated her to eighth.

The Guardian - Sport

If they make the dish better, however, I'm happy to keep them: this is the perfect carbonara, not the oldest.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It would be better, however, if the next Venetian New Year's gala could be a lot more, well, Venetian.

The New Yorker

If his team does not play better, however, U.S.C. will be a serious threat against the undersized Eagles.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to connect two contrasting statements, prioritize clarity by placing "however" at the beginning of the clause it modifies, ensuring a smoother and more grammatically sound sentence structure. For example, use "However, the results were better" instead of "The results were better however."

Common error

Avoid placing "however" at the end of a clause or directly after the adjective it modifies. This placement can lead to awkward phrasing and disrupt the flow of your writing. Instead, position "however" at the beginning of the clause to clearly signal the contrast.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "better however" functions as a conjunctional phrase that attempts to introduce a contrasting element. However, this construction is grammatically awkward and less effective than standard alternatives. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is considered incorrect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "better however" appears frequently in various contexts, Ludwig AI deems it grammatically "incorrect" and awkward. The intended purpose is to express contrast or concession, but the construction disrupts standard English sentence flow. For clearer communication, alternatives like "however, better" or other conjunctions like "yet, better" are recommended. Despite its common usage, prioritizing grammatical accuracy will enhance the clarity and polish of your writing. The phrase is most common in News & Media and Science contexts, although its presence doesn't validate its grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however, better

Reverses the order of the words, which is more conventional in English.

yet, better

Replaces "however" with "yet", another conjunction expressing contrast.

still, better

Substitutes "however" with "still", emphasizing a continuation despite a contrast.

nevertheless, better

Uses a more formal synonym for "however", adding emphasis to the contrast.

on the other hand, better

Introduces a contrasting point of view more explicitly.

conversely, better

Indicates a reversal or opposition in the ideas being presented.

in contrast, better

Highlights the difference between two things being compared.

despite this, better

Acknowledges a preceding fact but introduces a contrasting result.

even so, better

Admits a previous point but introduces a qualification.

that said, better

Briefly acknowledges a prior statement before presenting a contrasting one.

FAQs

What is the correct placement of "however" in a sentence?

Generally, "however" should be placed at the beginning of the clause it modifies, or after the first word. For example: "However, the results were better than expected" or "The results, "however, were better" than expected" are preferred over constructions where "however" appears at the end.

Are there alternatives to using "better however" to express contrast?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "however, better", "yet, better", or "despite this, better" to convey contrast more effectively.

Is "better however" grammatically correct?

While commonly found, the phrase "better however" is generally considered grammatically awkward. It's recommended to restructure your sentence for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Why is the phrase "better however" often considered awkward?

The phrase "better however" disrupts the typical flow of English sentences. "However" is generally used to introduce a contrasting statement, and placing it directly after "better" can make the sentence sound clunky and less polished. Reordering the words or using alternative conjunctions often leads to clearer and more effective communication.