but facing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but facing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a contrast or a situation where someone is confronting or dealing with something. Example: "She was excited about the new project, but facing tight deadlines made her anxious."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

But facing a tsunami of fans, the musician walked away.

The New York Times

But, facing the press, he could barely disguise his delight.

The Economist

But facing Coach Urban Meyer's Gators was a different test.

The New York Times - Sports

But facing big losses in the elections this fall I can't blame them.

The Economist

But facing increasing political pressure to produce an alternative, Republicans acted.

The New York Times

But facing break points, Murray dialed up some of his strongest serving of the day.

The New York Times

But facing a man carrying multiple guns and ample ammunition, there was little he could do.

The New York Times

But facing up to the past is the way to avoid having to live in it.

The Economist

But facing opposition from the automakers, Mr. Kowalick promised that the report would not be sent.

The New York Times

But facing both ways at once is hard for even the best dancer.

The Guardian

The Tory party comes to Manchester in chipper spirits but facing some serious political difficulties.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but facing" to introduce a contrasting challenge or obstacle. It smoothly transitions from a previous statement to a new, often problematic, situation.

Common error

Avoid using "but facing" when a simple 'despite' or 'in spite of' would be more concise. "But facing" works best when it connects two clauses or ideas, not just to negate a single element.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but facing" functions as a conjunctive phrase that introduces a contrasting element or challenge. As Ludwig AI highlights, it connects two ideas, where the second idea often presents a difficulty or obstacle. It's typically used to show a shift in the narrative.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but facing" is a frequently used conjunctive phrase that introduces a contrast while acknowledging a challenge or obstacle. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely applicable, particularly in news, media, and scientific contexts. When writing, use "but facing" to connect contrasting ideas and emphasize the active confrontation of a difficult situation. While common, writers should be mindful to avoid overusing it in place of more concise alternatives like 'despite'. Given its frequency and grammatical validity, "but facing" is a reliable way to introduce a contrasting element in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yet confronting

Emphasizes the act of confronting a situation despite a contrasting element.

nonetheless confronting

Similar to "yet confronting", but with a slightly stronger emphasis on the contrast.

however encountering

Highlights the experience of encountering something despite a previous statement.

even so encountering

Suggests that even with a previous condition, one still encounters a particular situation.

though contending with

Focuses on the act of contending or struggling with something in contrast to a previous point.

notwithstanding contending with

Implies that a following action is happening while, or because, one is managing a struggle.

whilst grappling with

Implies a more intense struggle or effort to overcome something despite a contrasting element.

nevertheless dealing with

Stresses the act of dealing with something despite a contrasting circumstance.

in spite of grappling with

Indicates an action proceeds regardless of a struggle with something.

despite the confrontation of

Highlights the confrontation of a difficulty notwithstanding some other factor.

FAQs

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

Use "but facing" to introduce a contrasting situation or challenge. For example, "The team was well-prepared, but facing unexpected weather conditions, they had to adjust their strategy."

What are some alternatives to "but facing"?

You can use alternatives like "yet confronting", "however encountering", or "though contending with" depending on the specific context.

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

While starting a sentence with "but facing" isn't strictly incorrect, it's often stylistically better to include the element that "but" is contrasting. For example, prefer "The company aimed for growth, but facing economic downturn, it struggled" over "But facing economic downturn, the company struggled."

What is the difference between "but facing" and "despite"?

"But facing" introduces a contrasting situation that someone is actively dealing with, whereas "despite" simply indicates that something occurred regardless of a particular obstacle. For example, "The athlete was injured, but facing the challenge, he competed" versus "Despite his injury, the athlete competed."