but otherwise everything

USAGE SUMMARY

"but otherwise everything" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that everything has gone as expected apart from one particular thing. For example: "I missed the practice quiz, but otherwise everything has gone smoothly this week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

But otherwise everything else is the same.

Yale University

There were lots of puddles, but otherwise everything seemed fine.

The Guardian

It missed the three instructional videos and the photo of a turkey, but otherwise everything was there.

The New York Times - Tech

Ms. Cribbs's corner office is off limits, but otherwise everything but the blue carpeting is for sale.

The New York Times

"It looks like we have a few new cracks in the house," he said, "but otherwise everything looks fine".

The New York Times

The gas supply to my apartment block has been cut off, and the tap water is black with soot and dirt, but otherwise everything is normal.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Otherwise, everything is OK, but spitting makes me react, I really struggle with it.… Faeces don't affect me at all.

BMC Nursing

He missed a question about the cost of eye exams for people over sixty but otherwise got everything right.

The New Yorker

I reduced the sugar, switched out the premade crust for one made from scratch and replaced the Cool Whip with whipped cream, but otherwise kept everything else the same.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Otherwise, everything falls flat".

The New York Times - Food

Otherwise, everything is a joke".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but otherwise everything" to clearly signal that a previously mentioned issue doesn't negate the overall positive condition.

Common error

Avoid using "but otherwise everything" when the 'but' is unnecessary, leading to redundancy. In cases where there's no prior negative context, simply stating "everything is fine" might be more efficient.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but otherwise everything" functions as a conjunctive phrase. It serves to introduce a statement that qualifies a previous statement, indicating that despite an exception, the overall situation is generally positive or satisfactory, as Ludwig examples indicate.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but otherwise everything" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that serves to acknowledge an exception while emphasizing a generally positive condition. According to Ludwig, it is frequently found in News & Media, Academic, and Science contexts, and is suitable for neutral register communication. When using the phrase, ensure that the 'but' introduces a genuine contrast and avoid redundancy. Alternatives include "apart from that" or "except for that".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apart from that, everything is fine

Replaces "but otherwise" with "apart from that" to express a similar sentiment of exception.

except for that, all is well

Substitutes the entire phrase with a more concise expression of the same idea.

besides that, everything's okay

Uses "besides that" instead of "but otherwise" to denote an exception not affecting the overall positive state.

save for that, all is good

Employs "save for that" to indicate an exception, maintaining a generally positive assessment.

with that one exception, everything is alright

Specifies the exception more explicitly while affirming a satisfactory state.

barring that, everything is in order

Replaces "but otherwise" with "barring that" to express that apart from the mentioned problem, everything is okay.

other than that, all is satisfactory

Uses "other than that" to introduce the exception, while confirming the overall acceptability.

excluding that, everything is acceptable

More directly excludes a specific item while affirming general agreement.

that aside, all is proceeding smoothly

Shifts the focus away from a mentioned issue, highlighting the positive progress.

notwithstanding that, the rest is fine

Acknowledges an issue but emphasizes that it doesn't affect the generally positive situation.

FAQs

How can I use "but otherwise everything" in a sentence?

Use "but otherwise everything" to indicate that despite a specific issue or exception, the overall situation or condition is satisfactory. For example, "The weather was rainy, but otherwise everything was perfect".

What are some alternatives to "but otherwise everything"?

You can use alternatives like "apart from that", "except for that", or "besides that" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "but otherwise everything"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. It is used to show that a situation is generally okay, apart from a specific detail that has already been mentioned.

What is the difference between "but otherwise everything" and "nevertheless everything"?

"But otherwise everything" implies a minor issue doesn't detract from the overall positive state. "Nevertheless everything" isn't a common or grammatically sound phrase; "nevertheless" usually introduces a contrast despite something else, and doesn't fit well with "everything".