but what ever

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but what ever" is not correct in written English; it should be "but whatever." You can use it to express indifference or resignation about a situation or outcome.
Example: "I tried to explain my point, but whatever, it doesn't really matter now."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

But what ever does?

The New Yorker

But what ever happened to the red, white and blue?

The New York Times

Defending Medicare and Social Security may be all well and good, but what ever happened to utopia?

The New York Times - Books

Kudos to the Empac facilities, but what ever happened to those European Union rules about noise in the workplace?

The New York Times - Arts

The concept of relative deprivation was first described by Adam Smith in "The Wealth of Nations," in a passage on the "necessaries" of daily life: By necessaries I understand not only the commodities which are indispensably necessary for the support of life, but what ever the customs of the country renders it indecent for creditable people, even the lowest order, to be without.

The New Yorker

The concept of relative deprivation was first described by Adam Smith in "The Wealth of Nations," in a passage on the "necessaries" of daily life: **{:.break one} ** By necessaries I understand not only the commodities which are indispensably necessary for the support of life, but what ever the customs of the country renders it indecent for creditable people, even the lowest order, to be without.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

But, seriously, what ever happened to that old communal parenting adage, it takes a village?

The Guardian - Opinion

Next put an all over liquid foundation on that is your exact skin town and even out your face and remember if you want to you can use powder foundation as well, but please what ever you do don't cake any makeup onto your face.

WikiHow

Create Jobs and Create a Job for Yourself as well as try to Become an Entrepreneur and protect and create opportunity if possible, and so don't make excuses, but do what ever is necessary to keep food on the table and shelter.

WikiHow

But remember that what ever you do make sure it is a team decision and not just on your own.

WikiHow

The spy one should be outside and the CSI inside but you can do what ever.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey indifference or resignation, use the correct phrase "whatever" instead of the ungrammatical "what ever."

Common error

Avoid splitting "whatever" into two words ("what ever") as this changes the meaning and is grammatically incorrect. "Whatever" is used to express indifference, while "what ever" would only be correct if "ever" modified "what" in a question, which is rare.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but what ever" functions as a conjunction introducing a clause. However, Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically incorrect. It attempts to connect a preceding statement with a sense of indifference or a question about the relevance or outcome.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "but what ever" appears in various sources, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI marks it as such, advising the use of ""but whatever"" instead, to properly convey indifference or resignation. Though common, especially in News & Media and Wiki contexts, its use should be approached with caution in more formal or professional settings. Be mindful of the potential confusion with the correct phrase "whatever" and prioritize grammatical accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but whatever

This is the grammatically correct and most direct replacement, expressing indifference or resignation.

but what does it matter

This emphasizes the lack of importance or relevance of something.

but so what

This expresses a lack of concern or interest in the stated information.

but what's the point

This questions the purpose or value of something being discussed.

but what then

This alternative inquires about the subsequent course of action or events.

but what of it

This phrase challenges the significance or importance of something.

but what's the difference

This questions the distinction or variation between two things.

but where's the harm

This challenges the negative consequences or harm of a particular action or situation.

but what is there to do

This is a statement of resignation, that there are no other alternatives.

but what are you going to do

This phrase indicates that there is nothing to do and one must accept a negative outcome.

FAQs

What is the correct way to write "but what ever"?

The correct way to write this phrase is "but "but whatever"". The one-word form "whatever" is used to express indifference or resignation.

When should I use "whatever" instead of "what ever"?

Use "whatever" when you mean "it doesn't matter" or "anything". "What ever" is rarely correct and usually a mistake unless "ever" modifies "what" in a question.

What does "but whatever" mean?

The phrase ""but whatever"" typically indicates a dismissal or a sense of resignation after a previous statement. It suggests that the speaker is not particularly concerned about the topic anymore.

Are there alternatives to using "but whatever" in a sentence?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "but anyway", "but it doesn't matter", or simply omit the phrase altogether.