but again when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but again when" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a context where you are revisiting a previous point or situation, but it lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "I thought we agreed on the timeline, but again when did we finalize the details?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

But, again, when the roads are fixed, it makes it easier to get to the hospital.

The Guardian

"Pittsburgh's defense is pretty good, but again, when you break down personnel, Miami's going to have more first-round draft choices than anyone else," Wallace said.

The New York Times - Sports

But again, when I widened my search, Orbitz beat them: $287 nonstop on T.W.A. from Kennedy to San Francisco -- at least $50 less than Travelocity and Expedia.

The New York Times - Travel

But again, when the results are split the picture is slightly different: Among those polled after Saturday's Gingrich win, 42 percent said he had the best chance of defeating the president, drawing even with Mr. Romney on that question.

The New York Times

"But again, when you're going through a tough time, like he is right now, you have a tendency to magnify the bad stuff and not really take the good stuff into consideration".

The New York Times - Sports

He only had to speak a few simple words to Sonia, and he practised with my brother and I, but again, when the camera was on, he said three words and then made a face.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

The movie bathes itself in Western genre tropes and aesthetics, which isn't an issue unto itself--Pixar tackling a Western is exciting --but again whexciting --butmoviexciting --butprotagainst as insufferably dumb as Arlo, the slowhenpace becomes a hindrance.

Huffington Post

"They will have lots of pressure on them," he adds, "but, then again, when the whole stadium supports them, I think they will show their best".

BBC

But then again, when they were bad, they were bad.

The New York Times - Sports

Tebow was in good spirits, but, then again, when is he not?

The New York Times - Sports

But then again, when a Little League team loses, they still get ice cream.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, consider replacing "but again when" with more precise alternatives such as "however when" or "yet again when" to ensure smoother sentence flow and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "but again when" in formal writing; it can sound redundant and clunky. Instead, opt for a single conjunction like "however" or "although" followed by "when" to connect contrasting ideas and temporal clauses more effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but again when" functions as a conjunction attempting to link contrasting information with a specific time or condition. However, as Ludwig AI points out, its grammatical correctness is questionable, and its structure can be improved for clarity. The function aimed for is to act like a complex conjunction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "but again when" appears in various contexts, including news and media, its grammatical soundness is questionable. Ludwig AI suggests that the phrase is not standard in written English and may cause confusion. It functions as a conjunction attempting to link contrasting information with a specific time, but clearer alternatives like "however when" or "yet again when" are often preferable for improved clarity and smoother sentence flow. The phrase's register is generally neutral to informal, making it less suitable for formal academic writing. Despite its relatively common occurrence, careful consideration should be given to alternative phrasings that enhance precision and readability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however when

Replaces "but again" with a simpler conjunction to indicate contrast and timing.

yet again when

Emphasizes repetition or recurrence while still indicating a specific time.

but then when

Indicates a contrast followed by a specific time or condition, similar to the original phrase.

although when

Substitutes "but again" with a subordinating conjunction that shows concession and a time element.

in contrast when

Highlights the opposing nature of the ideas being connected, adding a temporal element.

conversely when

Introduces a contrasting point in time or condition.

on the other hand when

Presents an opposing view or situation that occurs at a specific time.

even so when

Implies that despite a previous statement, something else happens at a specific time.

despite this when

Highlights that something happened at a specific time despite a contrasting circumstance.

notwithstanding when

Acknowledges a previous point but introduces a different situation occurring at a particular time.

FAQs

How can I use "but again when" in a sentence?

While grammatically questionable, "but again when" attempts to link a contrast with a specific time. A clearer alternative might be "However, when...", as in: "I thought we had finished, but again when I checked, there were errors" could be revised to "I thought we had finished; however, when I checked, there were errors".

What can I say instead of "but again when"?

Consider using alternatives like "however when", "yet again when", or "but then when" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "but again when" or "however when"?

"However when" is generally preferred over "but again when" due to its clearer grammatical structure. "But again when" can sound redundant and awkward. Using "however when" provides a more concise and understandable connection between contrasting ideas and a specific time.

What's the difference between "but again when" and "but then when"?

"But again when" and "but then when" both aim to introduce a contrast related to a specific time. However, "but then when" often implies a sequence or consequence, while "but again when" suggests repetition or recurrence. Choose the one that best fits the intended meaning.