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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
but however not
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "but however not" is not correct and is redundant in written English.
You can use it when trying to express a contrast or exception, but it should be simplified to avoid redundancy. Example: "I wanted to go to the party, but however not if it rains."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
3 human-written examples
A peak state of emotional arousal is commonly assumed to be accompanied by increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system as a necessary but however not sufficient condition.
Science
In favor of the later hypothesis, several lines of mice, knockout for genes expressed specifically in the ventral telencephalon, show a striking, but however not total decrease in the number of cortical GABAergic neurons at birth.
Science
First of all, we identified two different types of parameters: Quantitative parameters: objective, described by means of numerical values and provided with cut-off (such as, ability to tolerate tube capping > 24h); Semi-quantitative parameters: objective, but however not be easily described by mean of a numerical value (as, for instance, swallowing function).
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
57 human-written examples
These visual means support communication and mutual understanding during design, but do however not address the management of the project.
These kinds of techniques are standard in the field of machine learning and data-mining, but are however not yet consistently employed within the field of (Q SAR modelling.
Science
The above cited studies have uncovered some important evolutionary insights, but have, however, not considered the regulatory context of miRNAs.
Science
This approach assumes complete LD between SNPs within a gene but does, however, not account for LD between genes.
Science
The difference signal data sets are equivalent to fluorescence projection data sets but do, however, not allow the differentiation between living bacteria species within the biofilm.
Science
This may decrease the ability of the study to generalize the findings to other regions, but should however not hamper the validity of the data.
Changing a person's clothing, including underwear, is the simplest method for delousing, but it is, however, not always practical (1 ).
Science
Breast milk is important for the infant, but it is however, not a complete food, as it is low in vitamins K and D [ 6, 7].
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Avoid using the phrase "but however not" in formal writing. It is redundant and can be simplified to "but not" or "however, not" for clarity and grammatical correctness.
Common error
Don't combine "but" and "however" in this way; they both serve to introduce a contrast. Choose one or the other to avoid redundancy and improve sentence flow.
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
2.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "but however not" functions as a conjunction, attempting to introduce a contrast or exception. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically incorrect and redundant because "but" and "however" serve similar contrasting roles. Examples show attempts to negate or qualify a previous statement, but in a flawed manner.
Frequent in
Science
60%
News & Media
30%
Formal & Business
10%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "but however not" is grammatically incorrect and considered redundant in English. Ludwig AI confirms this, suggesting simpler alternatives like "but not" or "however, not". While the phrase appears in various contexts, including scientific and news sources, its incorrect structure undermines its effectiveness. To improve clarity and grammatical accuracy, avoid combining "but" and "however" in this way and choose the most appropriate single conjunction or transitional phrase for your intended meaning.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
but not
This omits "however", creating a simpler and grammatically sound contrast.
however, not
Switches the order and adds a comma for grammatical accuracy while keeping the meaning close.
but nevertheless not
Replaces "however" with a stronger synonym, "nevertheless", for emphasis, though it might be overkill.
yet not
Uses "yet" as a more concise alternative to "but", maintaining the sense of contrast.
but still not
Adds "still" to emphasize the continuing absence or lack of something.
though not
Replaces "but" with "though" for a slightly more formal tone, indicating concession.
although not
A more formal version of "though not", suitable for academic or professional contexts.
but on the contrary not
Introduces a direct contradiction, emphasizing the negation more strongly.
but rather not
Suggests a preference for the negative, indicating a chosen alternative.
but definitely not
Adds emphasis to the negation, indicating a firm exclusion or denial.
FAQs
What is the simplest way to correct "but however not" in a sentence?
The easiest way to fix the phrase "but however not" is to remove either "but" or "however". Using just "but not" or "however, not" will make your sentence grammatically sound.
Is "but however not" ever considered grammatically correct?
No, "but however not" is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to the redundancy of "but" and "however" serving the same function. It's best to use one or the other.
Which is more appropriate in formal writing, "but not" or "however, not"?
Both "but not" and "however, not" are acceptable in formal writing, but "however, not" may be slightly more formal due to the inclusion of "however" as a transitional adverb.
What are some stronger alternatives to "but however not" when emphasizing a contrast?
For stronger emphasis, consider using phrases like "but definitely not" or "but certainly not". These add force to the negation.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
2.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested