but for the effect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but for the effect" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something would not have happened or been the case if not for a specific effect or influence. Example: "The project was a failure, but for the effect of the unexpected funding, we would have had to shut it down."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But for the effect of the liquid flow rate, it was shown that the cell performance firstly increased with increasing the liquid flow rate and then decreased with further increasing the liquid flow rate.

Science Bulletin

This is the core of the myth that drives so much of upper-middle-class child rearing: the necessity of getting the tyro into Harvard or other elite universities, not for any educational attainments (so impractical), but for the effect it supposedly has on future prospects.

Huffington Post

Our bipolar disorder sample is large but for the effect sizes observed, it is desirable to have access to substantially larger samples, of the order of 10s of 1000s rather than 1000s.

British Journal of Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

On Friday, the Federal Reserve reported that industrial production in the United States slipped in October by 0.4 percent, the second decline in the last three months, although the Fed said it would have been close to unchanged but for the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

The New York Times

But adjusting for the effect of exchange rates, international sales grew 34percentt.

The New York Times - Tech

But as for the effect on a particular school district, we're talking about a small number of children".

The New York Times

The stock market is correct in paying attention to the preannouncements we have seen, not for the impact they had in the third quarter, but rather for the effect they will have on fourth-quarter results.

The New York Times

Yet she was not concerned with clothes for their own sake, but specifically for the effect they enabled her to make.

Independent

Thus, ignoring the confounder imprecision can lead to biased estimates not only for the confounder effect but also for the effect of the exposure.

Environmental Health Perspectives

But for Portugal the effect might be unpalatable.

The Economist

But for now, the effect is brutal.How long will it last?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but for the effect" to clearly establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, especially when highlighting an exception to a general trend or expectation.

Common error

Avoid using "but for the effect" when you need to describe multiple contributing factors; it's best suited for scenarios where a single, identifiable effect is the primary consideration. It does not fit situations where there are other relevant variables to consider.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but for the effect" functions as a connector, specifically to introduce a condition or exception. It indicates that a particular outcome or situation exists only because of a specific effect. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but for the effect" serves as a connector to highlight a causal relationship where a specific effect is crucial for a particular outcome. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and commonly used, especially in analytical contexts within News & Media and Science. While not exceedingly common, it's grammatically correct and useful for emphasizing key influences, and its correct usage can be bolstered by understanding its function and comparing it to alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were it not for the effect

Emphasizes a hypothetical scenario where the effect is absent, changing the tone to a more formal register.

had it not been for the result

Similar to "were it not for", this phrase is formal and emphasizes past consequences.

except for the consequence

Replaces "effect" with "consequence", focusing on the result rather than the influence.

apart from its repercussions

Replaces "effect" with "repercussions", suggesting more significant or widespread consequences.

but excluding its impact

Directly excludes the impact, focusing on what remains after removing the effect.

aside from the outcome

Indicates that the outcome is the only exception to a general statement.

save for the outcome

Introduces an exception related to the final outcome or result.

without the influence of

Highlights the absence of influence, offering a more direct alternative.

if not considering the effect

Explicitly states that the effect is being disregarded for the purpose of analysis or discussion.

if we disregard the effect

Suggests the effect can be ignored, for a purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "but for the effect" in a sentence?

Use "but for the effect" to indicate that something would not have happened or been the case if not for a specific influence. For example, "The company would have failed, "but for the effect" of the new marketing campaign".

What phrases are similar to "but for the effect"?

Similar phrases include "except for the impact", "aside from the influence", or "without the influence of depending" on the context.

Is it correct to say "but for the effects"?

While grammatically acceptable, "but for the effects" is typically used when referring to multiple consequences or results, whereas ""but for the effect"" usually refers to a single, identifiable influence.

What is the difference between "but for the cause" and "but for the effect"?

"But for the cause" emphasizes the origin or reason something occurred, while ""but for the effect"" highlights the result or consequence. They focus on opposite ends of a cause-and-effect relationship.