but he surrendered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but he surrendered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are discussing a situation where someone gave up or yielded after a conflict or struggle. Example: "Despite his initial resistance, the soldier fought bravely until the end, but he surrendered when he realized there was no hope left."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

But he surrendered when it became clear that his men were outnumbered, and that continuing would only mean further bloodshed.

The New Yorker

At first he wouldn't come out, but he surrendered when the cops threatened to send a dog in after him.

The New York Times - Magazine

In 332 Chares commanded a Persian force in Mytilene, but he surrendered at the approach of a Macedonian fleet on condition that he be allowed to retire unmolested.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"He was armed quite heavily -- more heavily than I ve ever seen in my career". But he surrendered quietly after about a half hour of negotiations.

The New York Times

But he surrendered a season-high 11 hits in that game, and after Friday's uncharacteristic outing, he is 0-2 in his last two starts and has given up 20 hits and 12 runs (10 earned) in 112/3 innings.

The New York Times - Sports

Forrest stormed off muttering, "What does he fight battles for?" Bragg did move on Chattanooga shortly afterward, but he surrendered the initiative by besieging the enemy and then weakened his army by sending Longstreet to attack Knoxville.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

But after he surrendered his third hit, a ground-ball single by Colby Rasmus on his 108th pitch, Kuroda was lifted by Manager Joe Girardi in favor of Dave Robertson.

The New York Times - Sports

In his early career, Rockwell saw photographs as "a dishonorable crutch for lazy draftsmen," but once he surrendered to the camera's charms, photography transformed his art.

The New Yorker

At first, this embarrassed him, but then he surrendered to the situation, happy to know that his hotel would be there at the end of the night, his hotel room and the word "hotel," which in that instant seemed a miraculous (that is to say evanescent) incarnation of risk and freedom.

The New Yorker

His suspension was reduced, to three days from the original ten, but not before he surrendered his phone to main office, where it was turned off.

Huffington Post

But on Oct. 30, he surrendered to federal authorities in Washington.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but he surrendered" to clearly indicate a change in action or decision after initial resistance. This construction is effective in narratives, historical accounts, and reports.

Common error

Avoid using "but he surrendered" as a weak conclusion. Ensure the preceding context builds sufficient tension or resistance to make the surrender meaningful. If the resistance is minimal, consider a simpler phrase like "he surrendered".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but he surrendered" functions as a conjunction phrase introducing a contrast. The conjunction "but" connects the preceding action or state with the subsequent act of surrendering, highlighting a change in behavior. Ludwig confirms that it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but he surrendered" is a grammatically sound and frequently used conjunction phrase that indicates a change of action after resistance. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is generally correct and usable in written English. Its primary function is to convey a transition from conflict or opposition to yielding or giving up, particularly within neutral to professional contexts like news reports, historical accounts, and formal narratives. When using this phrase, ensure that the preceding context builds enough tension to make the act of surrendering meaningful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however he yielded

Replaces "but" with "however" and "surrendered" with "yielded", maintaining the core meaning of concession.

yet he capitulated

Uses "yet" in place of "but" and substitutes "surrendered" with the more formal "capitulated".

nonetheless he gave in

Replaces "but" with "nonetheless" and "surrendered" with the phrasal verb "gave in", indicating a less formal yielding.

in the end he surrendered

Adds "in the end" for emphasis, highlighting the finality of the surrender.

eventually he surrendered

Similar to "in the end", this uses "eventually" to emphasize that the surrender happened after some time or resistance.

ultimately he surrendered

Like the previous alternatives, "ultimately" also emphasizes the final nature of the surrender.

still he submitted

Employs "still" instead of "but" and replaces "surrendered" with "submitted", suggesting a more formal and perhaps reluctant yielding.

even so he relented

Uses "even so" to replace "but" and "relented" for "surrendered", conveying a sense of softening or changing one's stance.

although he conceded

Starts with a subordinate clause using "although", and replaces "surrendered" with "conceded", indicating an acknowledgment of defeat.

despite that he succumbed

Uses "despite that" to introduce the yielding action, with "succumbed" replacing "surrendered", suggesting being overcome by pressure.

FAQs

How can I use "but he surrendered" in a sentence?

You can use "but he surrendered" to show a change in action after some form of resistance. For instance, "He fought bravely, but he surrendered when he realized he was outnumbered".

What phrases are similar to "but he surrendered"?

Alternatives include "however he yielded", "yet he capitulated", or "nonetheless he gave in" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "but he surrendered", or should I use a different conjunction?

"But he surrendered" is grammatically correct and commonly used. The choice of conjunction depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "However", "yet", or "nonetheless" are alternatives.

What is the difference between "but he surrendered" and "he surrendered"?

The phrase "but he surrendered" implies a prior state of resistance or opposition, while "he surrendered" simply states the action of surrendering without explicitly mentioning any prior resistance. The phrase using "but" adds a sense of contrast.