but however much

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but however much" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a contrast or concession, emphasizing that no matter the extent of something, the outcome remains unchanged. Example: "But however much I try to explain, he just doesn't understand my point of view."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But however much they grumbled about his rehearsal techniques, the musicians responded with energetic, vital readings.

The New York Times - Arts

But however much I "projected" at patient Tchineye, she didn't always go the way I wanted.

The Guardian - Travel

But however much the mayor pleaded for a slide, no one played ball.

The Guardian - Arts

But however much he might wish otherwise, Ganesh must depart, she said.

The New York Times

But however much of a struggle it is, her art does continue to evolve.

The Guardian - Arts

"But, however much I tried, I couldn't engage him in any serious discussion of juche.

The New York Times

But however much governments clamp down, both immigration and immigrants are here to stay.

The Economist

But however much criticism her tactics attract, Wozniacki wins a lot of matches.

The New York Times

But, however much room there is for debate about these trade-offs, one thing is clear.

The Economist

But, however much he may hate it, he has been manoeuvred into a corner.

The Guardian - Opinion

But however much we may mechanise our marketing, brands, relationships and experiences will retain an emotional dimension.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but however much" to introduce a contrasting statement, acknowledging a certain degree or amount of something before presenting the opposite or unexpected outcome. It's particularly effective when you want to emphasize that the quantity or effort doesn't change the final result.

Common error

Avoid using "but however much" when a simpler conjunction like "but" or "however" would suffice. Overusing this phrase can make your writing sound verbose. Ensure the emphasis provided by "however much" is genuinely needed for the sentence's meaning.

Linguistic Context

"But however much" functions as a concessive conjunctional phrase. It introduces a clause that acknowledges a certain quantity or degree, but then contrasts it with an unexpected or opposing outcome. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but however much" is a grammatically sound and frequently used conjunctional phrase that introduces a contrast or concession. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it's considered correct and usable in written English. While alternatives like "no matter how much" or "regardless of how much" exist, "but however much" effectively emphasizes that a certain degree or amount does not alter the final outcome. Its prevalence in news and media sources reflects its versatility and broad applicability. Avoid redundancy by ensuring the emphasis provided by "but however much" is necessary for clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but no matter how much

Replaces 'however' with 'no matter how', emphasizing the condition.

but regardless of how much

Uses 'regardless of' instead of 'however', stressing the indifference to the amount.

but despite how much

Substitutes 'however' with 'despite', highlighting the contrast.

but in spite of how much

Replaces 'however' with 'in spite of', adding a sense of defiance.

yet however much

Replaces "but" with "yet", emphasizing the contradiction.

though however much

Replaces "but" with "though", indicating concession.

but even with all the

Emphasizes the quantity or effort involved, contrasting it with the outcome.

but for all the

Similar to 'even with all the', but more concise.

but notwithstanding the amount of

A more formal alternative, using 'notwithstanding' to introduce the contrast.

but with all

Shorter version conveying the same meaning.

FAQs

How to use "but however much" in a sentence?

The phrase "but however much" is used to introduce a contrast, emphasizing that despite the extent or degree of something, a different outcome occurs. For example: "But however much he tried, he couldn't open the door."

What can I say instead of "but however much"?

You can use alternatives like "no matter how much", "regardless of how much", or "despite how much" depending on the context. Consider alternatives like "but no matter how much" or "but regardless of how much".

Is it redundant to use "but however" together?

While "but" and "however" can sometimes be redundant, using "but however much" is acceptable when you need to emphasize the degree to which something doesn't change the outcome. The phrase functions as a stronger concession than just "but however".

What's the difference between "but however much" and "but even if"?

"But however much" focuses on the quantity or degree not affecting the outcome, whereas "but even if" introduces a hypothetical situation. For instance, "But however much he trained, he lost" emphasizes effort, while "But even if he had trained, he might have lost" discusses a possibility.