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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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but else

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'but else' is not correct or usable in written English.
It would not make sense in a sentence. If you want to express a contrast between two ideas, you can use the phrase 'but otherwise' instead. For example: "She wanted to go on vacation, but otherwise had to finish her project".

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

To obtain the expression of isomiRs with non-template extension at 3′ end, we first mapped reads to the respective miRNAs sequences with one mismatch, and then counted reads that were one nucleotide longer than the miRBase sequence but else matched the miRBases sequence perfectly.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But who else?

News & Media

The New York Times

But something else should.

News & Media

The Economist

But what else?

News & Media

The New York Times

But little else does.

News & Media

The New York Times

But someone else did.

News & Media

Independent

But somebody else?

News & Media

The New York Times

But what else works?

News & Media

The New Yorker

But anything else?

News & Media

The New York Times

But something else changed.

But little else has happened.

News & Media

The Economist
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "but else" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "but otherwise" or "but instead" for clear communication.

Common error

A common mistake is directly pairing "but" with "else" without a connecting word or phrase. Always ensure a subject or modifier links "but" and "else", such as in "but something else" or "but what else", to maintain grammatical correctness.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

87%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but else" functions as a conjunction phrase intending to introduce a contrasting or additional element. However, it does not conform to standard English grammar. Ludwig AI notes the phrase is not correct for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but else" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms its non-standard usage. While it attempts to convey contrast or addition, proper alternatives such as "but otherwise", "but instead", or "but what else" should be preferred for clarity and correctness. Usage contexts are primarily limited to news and media, with better options available. Always aim for grammatically sound constructions to ensure effective communication.

FAQs

Is "but else" grammatically correct?

No, "but else" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use phrases like "but otherwise", "but instead", or "but something else" for proper grammar.

What can I say instead of "but else"?

Instead of "but else", consider using phrases like "but what else", "but anything else", or "but little else" depending on the intended meaning and context.

How can I properly use 'else' in a sentence with 'but'?

To properly use 'else' with 'but', ensure there is a connecting word or phrase. Examples include: "But what else can we do?", "But something else happened.", or "But everyone else did.". Avoid simply saying "but else".

What's the difference between "but else" and "but otherwise"?

"But else" is not grammatically correct, while "but otherwise" is a proper way to indicate an alternative or different condition. For instance, "I wanted to go to the park, but otherwise I had too much work to do."

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Source & Trust

87%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: