but often

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'but often' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to contrast two different ideas or statements. For example, "I don't like going to the amusement park, but often I can't help but have fun once I'm there."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But often, they're not.

The New York Times

But often it doesn't.

The New Yorker

But often it is.

Independent

But often it's deceiving.

The New York Times - Arts

But often they don't.

The Economist

But often these are insufficient.

The Economist

They're invasive but often sympathetic.

The New York Times - Arts

But often it does not.

The Economist

Not always, but often enough.

The New York Times - Food

"But often they're not".

The New York Times

But often she caves.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but often" to introduce a contrasting idea that occurs regularly, creating a balanced view. It is particularly effective when acknowledging a common expectation before presenting a conflicting reality.

Common error

Avoid using "but often" repeatedly within a short paragraph. This can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful. Vary your sentence structure and use synonyms like "however frequently" or "though frequently" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but often" functions as a conjunction to introduce a contrast while simultaneously indicating frequency. It connects two opposing ideas, suggesting that the second idea happens with considerable regularity. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but often" is a grammatically sound and widely used conjunction phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and utility in contrasting ideas while indicating frequency. With its neutral register, it is suitable for diverse writing contexts, particularly in news and media, as highlighted by Ludwig's examples. While "but often" is a great way to combine contrast and a sense of frequency, be careful not to overuse it. Vary your sentence structure and use synonyms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

though frequently

Substitutes "but" with "though", slightly softening the contrast.

yet frequently

Uses "yet" instead of "but" to introduce a contrast with some regularity.

however frequently

Replaces "but" with "however" and "often" with "frequently", maintaining a formal tone.

while frequently

Employs "while" to indicate a contrast that occurs regularly.

nonetheless, often

Replaces "but" with "nonetheless", emphasizing the contrast despite the frequency.

nevertheless, often

Uses "nevertheless" instead of "but" to highlight the contrast.

even so, frequently

Adds "even so" for emphasis, maintaining the meaning of a frequent contrast.

on many occasions, though

Expresses the contrast as happening across many occasions.

in many instances, however

Rephrases to emphasize numerous occurrences with a contrasting "however".

more often than not, however

Emphasizes the frequency of the contrasting situation.

FAQs

How can I use "but often" in a sentence?

Use "but often" to introduce a contrast that happens regularly. For instance, "The forecast predicted sunshine, "but often" it rains in the afternoon".

What are some alternatives to "but often"?

You can use phrases like "though frequently", "however frequently", or "yet frequently" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to start a sentence with "but often"?

Starting a sentence with "but" is grammatically acceptable, especially in informal writing. Using "but often" to begin a sentence can emphasize a contrast that occurs regularly. Be sure that it connects logically to the previous idea, though.

What is the difference between "but sometimes" and "but often"?

"But sometimes" implies that the contrast occurs occasionally, while ""but often"" suggests that the contrasting situation happens frequently or regularly. The choice depends on the frequency you want to convey.