but successfully

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but successfully" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was achieved or accomplished despite challenges or difficulties. Example: "She faced numerous obstacles during the project, but successfully delivered it on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A comparison is laboriously but successfully introduced.

The New Yorker

Then he stood up, with difficulty, but successfully".

The New York Times - Books

But successfully living alongside the reptiles of the Mesozoic had repercussions for these earliest mammals.

The Guardian

But successfully checking off the therapists' boxes in no way depicts the reality of grief.

The New York Times

But successfully combating corporate country-hopping is likely to require international cooperation.

The New York Times

His opponent, George W. Bush, conceded the strength of the economy, but successfully cast doubt on Gore's role in it.

The New Yorker

Following her diagnosis two years ago, Thorpe applied for PIP and was refused, but successfully appealed against the decision.

The Guardian

The latter thinly but successfully disguised their fundamentalist violent creed in the language of protection of tradition, family and property.

The Guardian - Opinion

Instead, she has been subtly but successfully recast into one of the strongest cards in the Republican bid for presidency.

The Guardian

But successfully arguing that Wall Street aided lenders in a fraud is tough under federal securities laws.

The New York Times

Makeba gave birth to her daughter Bongi at the age of 17 and was then diagnosed with breast cancer, which was treated unconventionally, but successfully, by her mother.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone of your writing. While "but successfully" is generally appropriate, more formal alternatives like "nevertheless succeeded" may be preferable in academic or professional contexts.

Common error

While effective, overuse of "but successfully" can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your phrasing by using synonyms like "yet managed to" or restructuring the sentence to emphasize the achievement directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but successfully" primarily functions as a conjunction phrase, linking two contrasting ideas while emphasizing the positive outcome. It serves to highlight that an action or goal was achieved despite facing challenges or obstacles, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

23%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but successfully" is a grammatically correct and very common conjunction phrase used to highlight the achievement of a goal despite facing obstacles. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It's frequently found in contexts such as News & Media, Science, and Wiki, indicating a neutral register suitable for a wide range of writing styles. While "but successfully" effectively conveys resilience and accomplishment, overuse should be avoided by incorporating synonyms to maintain writing clarity and stylistic variation. This phrase emphasizes positive outcomes after challenges, enhancing the impact of achievements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yet managed to

Replaces "but" with "yet", offering a slightly more formal tone and emphasizing the contrast.

nevertheless succeeded

Emphasizes the achievement with "succeeded", adding a touch of formality through "nevertheless".

however, achieved

Uses "however" for contrast and "achieved" to highlight the positive outcome, providing a more straightforward structure.

in spite of that, prevailed

Emphasizes the obstacle with "in spite of that" and uses "prevailed" to convey a sense of overcoming adversity.

despite the odds, triumphed

Highlights the difficulty with "despite the odds" and uses "triumphed" to express a significant victory.

even so, accomplished

Offers a concise alternative, using "even so" for contrast and "accomplished" to denote completion.

still, came through

A more informal option using "still" and the phrasal verb "came through" to indicate success after difficulty.

yet overcame

Concise alternative using "yet" to indicate the contrast between the initial situation and successful outcome.

against all expectations, delivered

Uses "against all expectations" for strong emphasis on the surprising success.

notwithstanding this, attained success

A formal alternative using "notwithstanding this" to introduce the success despite potential hindrances.

FAQs

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

Use "but successfully" to connect two contrasting ideas, where the second part highlights a positive outcome despite an initial challenge. For example, "The team faced numerous setbacks, "but successfully" completed the project ahead of schedule".

What are some alternatives to "but successfully"?

You can use alternatives like "yet managed to", "nevertheless succeeded", or "however achieved" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

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

While some grammar guides traditionally discouraged starting sentences with "but", it is now widely accepted in modern English, especially for creating a conversational tone or emphasizing a contrast. Using "but successfully" at the beginning of a sentence is less common but can be effective in specific contexts.

How does the meaning of "but successfully" differ from simply using "successfully"?

Adding "but" emphasizes that the success was achieved despite some obstacle or difficulty. Simply saying "successfully" doesn't highlight any preceding challenges. For example, "They attempted a risky maneuver, "but successfully" executed it" conveys more drama than "They successfully executed a risky maneuver".