Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
but not l
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "but not l" is not correct in English and lacks clarity.
It seems to be an incomplete thought or expression, making it unusable in written English without additional context. Example: "I want to go to the party, but not l..." (this is incomplete and unclear).
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
Alternative expressions(4)
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
5 human-written examples
However, after prolonged treatment with L, but not L + T, BT474 cells switched from depending on ER as a survival pathway, to relying again on the HER network (increased HER2, HER3, and receptor ligands) to overcome L's effects.
Science
Given the lack of L segment in the RTU strains, we conclude that D segment duplication, but not L segment deletion, is responsible for the growth advantage in xylan-based media.
Science
The AOP3 promoter- AOP3 CDS primer combination generated the expected fragments in the three accessions, whereas the AOP2 combination generated a fragment in Col and Pi but not L er despite repeated attempts.
Science
The observation that Cyclin D1 is predictive of lethal outcome only in H TMA, but not L TMA, is consistent with the finding that the four-marker signature reported by Ding et al (2011) was not predictive of lethal outcome in our L TMA tissue, as well as on low-grade prostate cancer samples (Irshad et al, 2013).
Science
Of the 219 CpG sites showing differential methylation between tumor-adjacent gastric and tumor tissue, 114 were also significantly different between the H and L tumor subgroups (FDR = 0.001) and all of these were hypermethylated in H but not L tumors [Additional file 4].
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
54 human-written examples
The major difference between the two lies in the existence of a complete oral closure, which only occurs in [d] but not [l].
Science
The codimension of L SSM is equal to 22 n −1, which coincides with the number of equations given, and thus this set of equations defines L SSM. K81: Since a transversal of SSM\ K81is { e,(A C)(G T }, the hyperplanes p X = p(A T)(C G) X contain L K81 but not L SSM.
criceti, but not L. zeae, was washed out from the bioreactor.
Science
Pretreatment of d-cysteine- or l-cysteine-treated groups with indole-2-carboxylate reversed the gastroprotective effects of d-cysteine but not l-cysteine.
Science
HepG2 and HuH-7 effectively induced cytokine production of both two GPC3 CAR-T cells, but not L-02 cells and the groups containing mock T cells.
Science
A dose of l-arginine (0.3 μg/rat), but not l-NAME, during expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference produced an increase in locomotion compared with that in the control group.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Avoid using incomplete or nonsensical phrases like "but not l" in formal writing. Ensure clarity and grammatical correctness in your sentences.
Common error
Ensure that the comparison following "but not" is logical and grammatically complete. Replace "but not l" with a meaningful element for correct syntax.
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
2.2/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "but not l" functions as a conjunction phrase introducing an exception or contrast. However, it's grammatically incomplete and lacks a clear object of comparison. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase lacks clarity.
Frequent in
Science
100%
Less common in
News & Media
0%
Formal & Business
0%
Academia
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "but not l" is grammatically incorrect and lacks a clear meaning in English. While the individual words are common, their combination in this specific order does not form a coherent or usable phrase. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. The provided examples predominantly originate from scientific contexts, highlighting the importance of grammatical accuracy, even in specialized fields. For effective communication, replace "but not l" with a grammatically complete and contextually relevant phrase that clearly expresses the intended exception or contrast.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
except for l
Replaces "but not" with "except for", focusing on the exclusion of 'l'.
excluding l
Uses a gerund phrase to indicate the act of excluding 'l'.
not including l
Similar to "excluding l", but uses "not including" for emphasis.
without l
Emphasizes the absence of 'l' in the consideration.
distinct from l
Highlights the difference between something and 'l'.
unlike l
Uses "unlike" to show a contrast with 'l'.
not applicable to l
Indicates that something does not apply in the case of 'l'.
does not involve l
Focuses on the lack of involvement of 'l' in a process or situation.
different than l
Uses "different than" to point out a dissimilarity with 'l'.
apart from l
Indicates that something is separate or excluded from 'l'.
FAQs
How should I correctly use "but not" in a sentence?
The phrase "but not" should be followed by a noun or phrase that provides a clear contrast to the preceding element. For example, "I like cats, but not dogs".
What is a grammatically correct alternative to the ambiguous phrase "but not l"?
Without context, it's hard to provide a specific alternative, but options include "except for", "excluding", or "not including", followed by a noun or phrase.
Is there a difference between "but not" and "and not"?
"But not" implies a contrast or exception, while "and not" simply adds a negative element without necessarily creating a contrast. For example, "I went to the store, but not the bank" (contrast) vs. "I didn't go to the store, and not the bank either" (addition).
When is it appropriate to use "but not" in formal writing?
It's appropriate when you need to clearly express an exception or contrast. For instance, "The policy applies to all employees, but not contractors".
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
81%
Authority and reliability
2.2/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested