but given that

USAGE SUMMARY

"but given that" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to introduce a statement or fact that is in contrast to the previous one. For example: "I usually don't like to eat tacos, but given that it's Taco Tuesday, I might give it a try."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But given that car's combined rating of 23 m.p.g., this wasn't much of a selling point.

The New York Times

But given that interest in graduate school typically spikes during economic slumps, wasn't a sharp rise in yield foreseeable?

The New York Times

But given that Baidu is a Chinese company based in Beijing, and Yahoo!

Forbes

But given that happy accident, I want to take advantage of it.

Huffington Post

"But given that context, this is a balanced outcome with no political winners".

Huffington Post

But given that untreated caries is very prevalent and significant barriers exist to obtaining treatment, an unfortunate pattern occurs.

BMC Oral Health

But given that inflammation can induce necrosis and vice versa, it's not always obvious which lesion came first.

Environmental Health Perspectives

But, given that the population of Cairo is 18 million, casualties are not high.

Independent

"But, given that most of them were done badly, I wouldn't hold my breath".

The New Yorker

But given that this is an election year in America, the potential for grandstanding is endless.

The Economist

But given that the pandemic has spread to the UK, what can be done?

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "but given that", ensure that the 'but' genuinely introduces a contrast or exception to what precedes it, while 'given that' provides a clear and relevant justification for the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "but given that" simply to add information without a clear contrast. The 'but' should signal a genuine shift in perspective or expectation, not just a continuation of the same line of thought.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but given that" functions as a concessive conjunction, introducing a statement that contrasts with a previous one, while simultaneously providing a rationale or condition. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates a contrastive element and a reason for it.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but given that" serves as a concessive conjunction that introduces a contrasting statement supported by a rationale. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used. It is most commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, signaling its versatility across different registers. When using this phrase, ensure a genuine contrast exists and that the 'given that' clause provides a valid reason or condition. Remember that "but given that" is a very common and useful tool for expressing nuanced arguments, but alternatives like "however considering that" and "yet in light of the fact that" can be used to vary sentence structure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however considering that

Replaces 'but given that' with 'however considering that', maintaining a similar function but altering the phrasing for a slightly more formal tone.

nevertheless bearing in mind that

Combines "nevertheless" to show contrast with "bearing in mind that" to indicate consideration of a specific point.

still taking into account that

Uses "still" as a contrast and "taking into account that" to highlight the importance of the subsequent information.

yet in light of the fact that

Substitutes 'but' with 'yet' and 'given that' with 'in light of the fact that', resulting in a more elaborate expression.

but in view of the circumstance that

Replaces "given that" with the more formal "in view of the circumstance that", adding a layer of complexity to the sentence.

however in consideration of that

Offers a slightly more formal alternative, replacing "given that" with "in consideration of that" to emphasize thoughtfulness.

nonetheless because of the fact that

Replaces "but" with "nonetheless" and uses "because of the fact that" instead of "given that", which adds emphasis to the reason provided.

yet understanding that

Substitutes "given that" with "understanding that", which softens the tone while still conveying the reasoning.

even so considering

Offers a more concise alternative, replacing 'but given that' with 'even so considering' for a briefer, less formal tone.

despite the fact that

Focuses solely on the contrast, omitting the explicit reasoning aspect of 'given that'.

FAQs

How can I use "but given that" in a sentence?

"But given that" is used to introduce a statement that contrasts with a previous one, while also providing a reason or condition for the contrast. For example, "I don't usually like comedies, "but given that" this one has received rave reviews, I'll give it a try."

What are some alternatives to "but given that"?

You can use alternatives such as "however considering that", "yet in light of the fact that", or "nonetheless because of the fact that" to express a similar meaning, while varying your sentence structure.

Is it more appropriate to use "but given that" or "although"?

"But given that" is best used when you want to emphasize both the contrasting element and the reasoning behind it. "Although" is suitable when you primarily want to highlight the contrast without necessarily emphasizing the reason. The choice depends on which aspect you want to foreground in your sentence.

Can "but given that" be used in formal writing?

"But given that" is acceptable in formal writing, particularly when a clear contrast and justification are needed. More formal alternatives, such as "nevertheless bearing in mind that" or "however in consideration of that", may be preferred in highly academic or legal contexts.