but sadly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but sadly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express disappointment or regret about a situation that follows. Example: "I wanted to go to the concert, but sadly, I couldn't get tickets in time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But sadly, no.

The New York Times

But sadly, I have.

The New York Times

Useful: but, sadly, also impossible.

The Economist

But sadly, some did.

The Guardian - Opinion

But sadly not Cliff.

The Guardian - Music

But sadly it is.

The Guardian - Film

But sadly fashionable.

The Guardian

"But sadly, not in Catstantinople," lamented another.

Independent

But sadly it's not a rarity".

Independent

But, sadly, words are not enough.

The Economist

But, sadly, the jury thought otherwise.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but sadly" to smoothly introduce a disappointing or unfortunate contrast to a previous statement. It effectively signals a shift in tone and manages expectations.

Common error

While effective, relying too heavily on "but sadly" can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure and use synonyms like "however unfortunately" or "yet regrettably" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but sadly" functions as a conjunction to connect two contrasting ideas, and as an adverbial modifier to express the speaker's or writer's disappointment or regret regarding the situation presented in the second clause. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is grammatical and can be used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but sadly" is a grammatically correct and frequently used conjunction phrase to introduce a disappointing contrast. It's considered neutral in formality and appears most often in news and media contexts. As Ludwig AI points out, it's effective for signaling a negative turn or unfortunate circumstance. Alternatives like "however unfortunately" and "yet regrettably" can provide variety in writing. Avoid overusing "but sadly" to maintain a fresh and engaging writing style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yet unfortunately

Substitutes "sadly" with "unfortunately", keeping a similar level of formality and expressing a sense of bad luck or disappointment. The conjunction "but" is replaced by "yet".

however regrettably

Replaces "sadly" with "regrettably", maintaining a formal tone and indicating regret. The conjunction "but" is replaced by "however".

though disappointingly

Replaces "sadly" with "disappointingly", emphasizing the feeling of being let down. The conjunction "but" is replaced by "though".

even so, sadly

Uses "even so" as a contrasting transition, keeping "sadly" to convey disappointment. The conjunction "but" is replaced by a compound adverb.

alas, regrettably

Uses "alas" to express sorrow or regret, followed by "regrettably", indicating a cause for disappointment. The conjunction "but" is omitted.

on the other hand, sadly

Introduces "on the other hand" to present an opposing viewpoint, while retaining "sadly" to express sorrow. The conjunction "but" is replaced by a transitional phrase.

in spite of everything, sadly

Adds "in spite of everything" to highlight the contrast, retaining "sadly" to express sorrow. The conjunction "but" is replaced by a prepositional phrase.

yet regrettably

Simply replaces both "but" and "sadly" with the single adverb "regrettably" after the comma.

however, to my dismay

Replaces "sadly" with "to my dismay", highlighting personal disappointment. The conjunction "but" is replaced by "however".

contrary to expectations, sadly

Uses "contrary to expectations" to set up a contrast, keeping "sadly" to express disappointment. The conjunction "but" is replaced by an introductory phrase.

FAQs

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

Use "but sadly" to introduce a contrasting piece of information that brings disappointment or regret. For example, "I had hoped to attend the event, but sadly, I was unable to get tickets."

What are some alternatives to "but sadly"?

You can use alternatives like "however unfortunately", "yet regrettably", or "though disappointingly" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "but sadly"?

While starting a sentence with "but" is sometimes discouraged, it's grammatically acceptable, especially in informal writing. "But sadly" functions as a conjunction and adverbial modifier, effectively linking a previous idea with a disappointing consequence.

What's the difference between "but sadly" and "however unfortunately"?

"But sadly" is a more direct and common way to express disappointment following a contrasting statement. "However unfortunately" is slightly more formal and emphasizes the unfortunate nature of the situation.