but regrettably

USAGE SUMMARY

"but regrettably" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
You would use it when something happened that was unfortunate or if something was not received as you had intended. For example: We had hoped to finish the project in time, but regrettably, we were unable to do so.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But regrettably I have.

The Guardian - Opinion

But, regrettably, without the manual labourer's legendary looks.

Independent

Risotto with porcini was rich and creamy but regrettably salty.

The New York Times

The obvious but regrettably untested way would be to confront the graft more keenly.

The Economist

"But, regrettably, I believe the time has come to do this".

The New York Times

Humans still develop this primitive gooseflesh response but, regrettably, lack the luxuriant pelt to protect themselves.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But regrettably, it is still struggling to take root in all three countries.

The Economist

But regrettably this very human reaction swiftly mutated into one of moral disorientation.

Independent

He could have put his money elsewhere but regrettably he put it in the Caribbean".

Independent

"The classical cognoscenti, who are a small, vocal, very active community but, regrettably, a closed community.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was not the first of these sermons, but regrettably, it was his last," Jabar wrote.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the tone of the surrounding sentences aligns with the slightly formal nature of the phrase "but regrettably".

Common error

Avoid using "but regrettably" excessively in casual conversations or informal writing, as it may sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "but unfortunately" or "but sadly" in such scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but regrettably" functions as a conjunction adverbial phrase, connecting two clauses while expressing regret or disappointment about the information presented in the second clause. It often introduces a negative consequence or an unfavorable contrast, as shown in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but regrettably" serves as a conjunction phrase, effectively connecting contrasting ideas while expressing a sense of disappointment or regret. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in news, media, and scientific contexts. While it's a valuable tool for formal writing, remember to use it judiciously in informal settings to avoid sounding overly stiff. Consider alternative phrases such as "but unfortunately" or "but sadly" in less formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but unfortunately

Replaces "regrettably" with "unfortunately", indicating a sense of bad luck or disappointment.

but sadly

Substitutes "regrettably" with "sadly", emphasizing the sorrowful aspect of the situation.

however regrettably

Reorders the phrase to place emphasis on the "however", slightly altering the flow.

but disappointingly

Uses "disappointingly" instead of "regrettably", focusing on the feeling of letdown.

but to my regret

Expresses the regret more personally, using "to my regret".

but much to my dismay

Highlights strong feelings of disappointment and distress.

but it is regrettable that

Transforms the phrase into a more formal and explicit expression of regret.

but to my disappointment

Similar to "to my regret" but specifies the emotion as disappointment.

but with regret

Emphasizes the feeling of regret more directly.

but alas

Uses the interjection "alas" to express sorrow or regret in a more dramatic way.

FAQs

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

You can use "but regrettably" to introduce a contrast or an unfortunate outcome, for example, "We aimed to finish the project on time, "but regrettably", we encountered unexpected delays".

What are some alternatives to "but regrettably"?

You can use alternatives such as "but unfortunately", "but sadly", or "however regrettably" depending on the context.

Is "but regrettably" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "but regrettably" is suitable for formal writing as it maintains a level of sophistication and expresses disappointment or contrast in a polished manner.

What is the difference between "but regrettably" and "but regretfully"?

While both express regret, "regrettably" focuses on the unfortunate nature of the situation, whereas "regretfully" emphasizes the feeling of regret experienced by someone. For example, ""but regrettably" the event was canceled" versus "he "but regretfully" declined the invitation".