but even after

USAGE SUMMARY

"but even after" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express an idea that is in contrast to what has preceded it. For example, "He put in a tremendous effort, but even after all his hard work, he still did not achieve his desired outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But even after that change, Bell contributed.

The New York Times - Sports

But even after the recession, the emergency borrowing continued.

The New York Times

But, even after that, Telerate did not go away.

The New Yorker

But even after going into management, he continued to fly.

The New York Times

But even after prices are raised, amenities tend to stay.

The New York Times

But even after that seemingly irrecoverable disaster, Romney actually recovered.

The New York Times

But even after the war Hitler's messages found an audience.

The New York Times - Arts

But even after that, he's gone as a big tycoon".

The New York Times

But even after that, in practice she moved carefully.

The Guardian - Books

But even after this process Shaker Aamer faces no charges.

The Guardian - Opinion

But even after the poison was found, responses were tardy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but even after" to clearly signal a contrast or unexpected continuation following a specific event or action. It helps to manage reader expectations by highlighting that the expected outcome did not occur.

Common error

Avoid starting too many sentences with "but". While "but even after" is a valid construction, using "but" excessively can make your writing sound choppy. Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives like "however", "yet", or "nonetheless" at times.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but even after" functions as a transitional conjunction, connecting two contrasting ideas in a sequence. It emphasizes that a particular outcome or situation persists despite a prior event. Ludwig AI supports this function, showcasing numerous examples where the phrase effectively introduces contrasting information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but even after" is a versatile conjunction phrase used to introduce a contrast or unexpected continuation following a specific event. It's grammatically correct and very common, appearing most frequently in News & Media sources. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides ample examples of its use. While versatile, be mindful of overusing "but" constructions in your writing. Alternatives like "yet even after" or "however even after" can add variety. This phrase is a useful tool for managing reader expectations and highlighting surprising outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yet even after

Replaces "but" with "yet", maintaining a similar sense of contrast.

however, even after

Substitutes "but" with "however", emphasizing the contrast more formally.

still, even after

Emphasizes the continuation of a state or action despite a prior event.

nonetheless, even after

Introduces a stronger sense of concession despite what preceded.

in spite of that

Replaces the entire phrase with a shorter, more direct expression of contrast.

despite that

A more concise alternative to "in spite of that", indicating a contrast.

even then

Offers a shorter alternative focusing on the persistence after a specific time.

even so

Provides a simple way to indicate that something continues regardless.

subsequently

Focuses more on the sequence of events rather than the contrast.

thereafter

Highlights the temporal aspect, indicating what happened following a specific event.

FAQs

How can I use "but even after" in a sentence?

The phrase "but even after" is used to introduce a contrasting idea that persists despite a previous event. For example, "He trained hard for the marathon, but even after all his effort, he didn't win".

What phrases are similar to "but even after"?

Alternatives include "yet even after", "however even after", or "still even after". These all indicate a contrast that continues despite something that has already happened.

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

Starting a sentence with "but" is generally accepted in modern English, especially in informal writing. Using "but even after" is grammatically sound when it introduces a contrasting element following a prior action or event.

When should I use "but even after" versus a simpler conjunction?

Use "but even after" when you want to emphasize the unexpected persistence of a situation despite a preceding event. A simpler conjunction like "but" might suffice if the emphasis on the sequence and contrast is less important.