but definitely

USAGE SUMMARY

"but definitely" is a correct phrase that can be used in written English.
It is typically used to contrast two ideas or statements. For example, "I may not be able to finish the project by the deadline, but definitely by the end of the month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

But definitely lickable.

The New York Times

But definitely something.

Independent

But definitely not brown.

The Guardian

But definitely Italian TV.

The Guardian

But definitely worth a try.

The New Yorker

It's exciting but definitely disjointed.

Independent

Good weird, but definitely weird.

Independent

"But definitely not for Novak.

The New York Times - Sports

But definitely a good gimmick.

The New York Times

Not ice, but definitely gnarly.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Didn't love it, but definitely liked it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but definitely" to introduce a contrasting point that you want to emphasize as being certain or true. It adds a layer of assurance to your statement.

Common error

Avoid overusing "but definitely" in close proximity, as it can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your phrasing by using synonyms like "however certainly" or "yet assuredly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but definitely" functions primarily as a conjunctive adverbial phrase. It serves to introduce a contrast while emphasizing the certainty of the subsequent statement. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's used to strongly affirm a contrasting idea.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but definitely" is a grammatically sound conjunctive phrase used to introduce a contrasting point with emphasis and certainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to strongly affirm a contrasting idea. It is very common, particularly in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse and vary phrasing for stylistic purposes. The phrase conveys a sense of strong affirmation and is generally considered to be suitable for neutral and some formal contexts, as supported by the source analysis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but without a doubt

Replaces "definitely" with the longer phrase "without a doubt" for emphasis.

but undeniably

Substitutes "definitely" with "undeniably", conveying a strong sense of certainty and irrefutability.

however certainly

Replaces "but" with "however" while retaining the sense of contrast and certainty.

yet assuredly

Uses "yet" for contrast and "assuredly" to emphasize certainty.

nevertheless surely

Replaces "but" with "nevertheless" and "definitely" with "surely", indicating contrast and conviction.

though absolutely

Employs "though" for contrast and "absolutely" for strong affirmation.

while indeed

Uses "while" to introduce a contrasting element and "indeed" to affirm the subsequent statement.

certainly though

Inverts the structure, starting with "certainly" for emphasis and using "though" for the contrasting element.

indeed however

Starts with an affirmation ("indeed") then introduces a contrast with "however".

assuredly but

Places "assuredly" at the beginning for emphasis, followed by "but" to introduce a contrast.

FAQs

How can I use "but definitely" in a sentence?

Use "but definitely" to introduce a contrasting point that you want to emphasize. For example, "The task was challenging, "but definitely" achievable".

What are some alternatives to saying "but definitely"?

You can use phrases like "however certainly", "yet assuredly", or "nevertheless surely" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "but definitely"?

While starting a sentence with "but" is sometimes discouraged in formal writing, using ""but definitely"" to connect to a previous idea and emphasize a contrasting point is acceptable.

What's the difference between "but definitely" and "but absolutely"?

"But definitely" implies a strong degree of certainty, whereas "but absolutely" suggests an even stronger, unequivocal affirmation. Choose the one that best fits the level of emphasis you want to convey.