but still when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but still when" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to introduce a contrast or exception related to a specific time or condition. Example: "I was tired, but still when the opportunity arose, I decided to go for it."

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

But still: When did campaigns become so obsessed with tone?

The New York Times - Magazine

But, still, when Noel is ready to collaborate, I'm here.

The Guardian - Music

But still, when I asked him what he was doing differently, he couldn't answer me".

The New York Times - Sports

But, still, when the fakery creeps in, it can be distracting and off-putting.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"He is a little more under control, but, still, when it's time to explode through somebody, he does".

The New York Times - Sports

But still, when we're talking about the radial probability distribution, what we actually want to think about is what's the probability of finding the electron in that shell?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Ford used to outsell General Motors in big pickups, but Ford sat still when GM introduced much-improved models.

Forbes

But we are greater still when we work, when we aspire, when we dream as one people...

The New York Times

Similarly, IL-2 production from MyD88-deficient DC cultures was elevated when compared to TLR5-deficient DC cultures, but still low when compared to WT DCs (Fig. 1C).

European Journal of Immunology

It was harder still when all but one were Democrats (no Republican has won since 1926).

The Economist

But it is more painful still when it is on the watch of the Palestinian authorities".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "but still when", ensure that the contrast you are introducing is clear and that the "when" clause specifies a distinct condition or time.

Common error

Avoid using "but still when" excessively in formal contexts. While common, it can sound redundant. Consider using more concise alternatives like "however, when" or rewriting the sentence for improved clarity.

Linguistic Context

"But still when" functions as a conjunctional phrase, linking two clauses. It introduces a contrast or exception related to a specific condition or time frame. Ludwig presents numerous examples from news, media, and academic sources illustrating its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

15%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "but still when" acts as a conjunctional phrase to introduce a contrast or exception tied to a specific condition. Ludwig AI marks it as acceptable but not strictly grammatically correct, suggesting that alternatives such as "however, when" might be more suitable for formal contexts. Common across News & Media, Science, and Academia, its frequent appearance indicates widespread use, and its primary purpose is to specify an exception under certain conditions. While readily understood, carefully consider the context and audience when employing "but still when", perhaps favoring more polished options for a more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yet still when

Replaces "but" with "yet", maintaining the contrastive meaning while slightly altering the tone.

however, when

Substitutes "but still" with "however", providing a more formal contrastive conjunction.

nonetheless, when

Replaces "but still" with "nonetheless", offering a stronger sense of contrast.

even so, when

Uses "even so" in place of "but still" to indicate a concession followed by a conditional situation.

despite that, when

Employs "despite that" to highlight the contrasting element more explicitly.

in spite of that, when

Similar to "despite that", but with a slightly different nuance in emphasizing the contrast.

but even then

Emphasizes the conditional aspect by using "even then" instead of "when".

yet even then

Combines "yet" with "even then" to create a stronger contrast and conditional statement.

nevertheless, when

Offers a formal alternative to "but still", emphasizing the contrast despite the preceding statement.

all the same, when

Replaces "but still" with "all the same" to indicate that something happens regardless of what has been said before.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "but still when" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider replacing "but still when" with alternatives such as "however, when", "nonetheless, when", or rephrasing the sentence to use a more direct contrast. For instance, instead of "I was tired, but still when the opportunity arose, I decided to go for it", you could say "I was tired; however, when the opportunity arose, I decided to go for it".

What is a simpler way to say "but still when"?

A simpler alternative to "but still when" is "yet, when". For example, you could say "It was difficult, "yet when" I tried, I succeeded".

Is "but still when" grammatically incorrect?

While not considered strictly incorrect, "but still when" is often seen as less grammatically elegant. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is acceptable but it isn't considered standard written English. Using alternatives like "however, when" can improve the clarity and formality of your writing.

What's the difference between "but still when" and "but even when"?

"But still when" introduces a contrast followed by a condition. "But even when" emphasizes that something holds true even under specific circumstances. For example: "I was busy, but still when she asked, I helped" vs. "I was busy, but even when she insisted, I couldn't help."