but fortunately for

USAGE SUMMARY

"But fortunately for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it for when you want to introduce some good news that comes after a piece of bad news. For example: "We had to eliminate many jobs in our department, but fortunately for our employees, the layoffs were mostly temporary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But fortunately for us, most murderers are still pretty dumb".

The New York Times - Magazine

But fortunately for the future of humanity there are countervailing pressures.

Columbia University

But, fortunately for the Republicans, the Democrats have some of the most uninspired leaders imagineable.

The Economist

Their whole position might have been carried by storm, but, fortunately for Washington, General Howe delayed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But, fortunately for me, I didn't have to.. she chose they way I thought.

The New York Times

It was crisis time, but fortunately for England, Collingwood and Bopara were cool enough to cope.

Independent

I think it's probably an unhealthy thing, but fortunately for me I didn't drop the ball.

The New Yorker

But fortunately (for Mr. Adrian), his ripped-suit photograph was not shot from a great angle.

The New York Times

Hellman sued but, fortunately for McCarthy, died before the case could come to court.

The Economist

But, fortunately for Hillary, Reince Priebus is working hard to make her look more important.

The New York Times

But fortunately for him, talk of a PAN-PRD alliance there has faltered.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but fortunately for" to smoothly transition from a description of a problem or challenge to a positive outcome or relief, enhancing the narrative flow and creating a sense of optimism. It is useful to communicate relief.

Common error

Avoid using "but fortunately for" when there's no preceding problem or potential negative situation. This phrase is most effective when it introduces a positive twist or relief after a setup of potential difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but fortunately for" functions as a conjunction, specifically to introduce a contrast between a negative or challenging situation and a positive outcome. This phrase connects two parts of a sentence, signaling a turn of events. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

7%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"But fortunately for" is a versatile conjunction phrase used to introduce a welcome contrast after a challenging setup. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and utility across various contexts. Appearing most frequently in News & Media, the phrase maintains a neutral register and is appropriate for both formal and informal writing. When using "but fortunately for", ensure a preceding problem or challenge is clearly established to maximize its impact. Alternatives include "however luckily for", "nevertheless auspiciously for" and "on the other hand fortunately for" offering similar shades of meaning depending on the desired emphasis. Overall, "but fortunately for" is a reliable way to signal relief and positive outcomes in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

However, luckily for

Swaps "fortunately" for "luckily", maintaining the sense of a fortunate turn of events. This alters the emphasis slightly, focusing more on luck than inherent fortune.

Even so, luckily for

Similar to "However, luckily for", this option replaces "fortunately" with "luckily", keeping the sense of lucky turn of events after some issues.

On the other hand, fortunately for

This version explicitly contrasts a negative element with a positive one, emphasizing balance.

In contrast, fortunately for

Similar to "on the other hand", this phrase highlights a favorable aspect that offsets a less desirable one.

Nevertheless, auspiciously for

Substitutes "fortunately" with "auspiciously", lending a more formal and somewhat old-fashioned tone, suggesting that events are favorably aligned.

Yet, helpfully for

Replaces "fortunately" with "helpfully", shifting the focus from luck to assistance or support that leads to a positive outcome.

Still, favorably for

Replaces "fortunately" with "favorably", implying that circumstances are working in someone's favor.

But, as luck would have it

Replaces the entire phrase with an idiomatic expression emphasizing chance and good fortune.

However, to their advantage

Shifts the perspective to focus on the beneficiary and emphasizes an advantage they receive.

That said, on the bright side for

Introduces a contrasting positive perspective after a negative situation, highlighting the optimistic aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "but fortunately for" in a sentence?

Use "but fortunately for" to introduce a positive outcome or turn of events following an initial problem or potential issue. For example: "The team faced several setbacks, but fortunately for them, a new strategy led to success."

What's a good alternative to "but fortunately for"?

Alternatives include "however luckily for", "nevertheless auspiciously for", or "on the other hand fortunately for", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "but fortunately for" at the beginning of a sentence?

While grammatically acceptable, starting a sentence with "but fortunately for" can sometimes sound slightly awkward. It is often more effective to integrate the phrase within the sentence to ensure a smoother flow.

What's the difference between "but fortunately for" and "luckily"?

"But fortunately for" explicitly acknowledges a prior challenge or negative situation that makes the positive outcome particularly welcome, while "luckily" simply indicates a fortunate event without necessarily implying prior adversity.