can do however

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can do however" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a contrast or exception, but it lacks proper structure and clarity. Example: "I can do the task; however, I need more time to complete it."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

What they can do however is drive a hard bargain.

The Guardian - Opinion

What he can do, however, is be a witness.

The Guardian - Books

It's not clear what he can do, however.

Independent

What we can do, however, is locate the fragility in the system and reduce it.

The Guardian - Books

What theatre can do, however, is create a space for consideration.

Independent

What the filmmakers can do, however, is re-create, with hard clarity, what it was that Turner saw.

The New Yorker

What these disciplines can do, however, is bring the urban environment into more coherent relationship to the global reality.

The New York Times - Arts

What such footage can do, however, is bring to book some of those who make our roads dangerous.

The Guardian

What it can do, however, is unleash all kinds of ugly forces who have their own ideas about patriotic duty.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

There is something they can do, however.

The Guardian - Sport

What can you do, however, about a title such as "Captain America: The First Avenger"?

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To express contrast correctly, separate the ability from the contrasting circumstance. Use "can do, however," with a comma to provide clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "can do however" without proper punctuation or conjunctions. This phrase lacks grammatical structure and can confuse readers. Instead, use "can do, however," or restructure the sentence for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can do however" attempts to express a contrast or exception to a preceding statement. However, as Ludwig AI notes, the phrase lacks proper grammatical structure and is considered incorrect in written English. The examples provided demonstrate various attempts to convey this contrast.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

18%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "can do however" appears frequently, Ludwig AI emphasizes that it is grammatically incorrect. To properly convey contrast, it's essential to use "can do, however," with a comma, or to restructure the sentence with appropriate conjunctions. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media and informal contexts. For more formal or professional writing, alternatives like "can nevertheless do" or rephrasing with 'but' or 'yet' are recommended. Understanding these nuances ensures clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can nevertheless do

Replaces "however" with "nevertheless" for a more formal contrast.

can still do though

Adds "still" and "though" for a more conversational tone while maintaining contrast.

is able to do despite that

Uses "is able to do" to emphasize capability, and "despite that" for contrast.

can accomplish even so

Replaces "do" with "accomplish" for a stronger action, and "even so" for contrast.

is capable of, nonetheless

Uses "is capable of" to highlight ability, and "nonetheless" as a formal contrast.

can perform even then

Replaces "do" with "perform" for a more formal tone, and "even then" for contrast.

can manage in spite of this

Uses "can manage" to emphasize handling a situation, and "in spite of this" for contrast.

is able to, notwithstanding

Uses "is able to" for capability and "notwithstanding" for a formal contrast.

can achieve regardless

Replaces "do" with "achieve" for a stronger action and "regardless" for concise contrast.

can proceed even under those circumstances

Emphasizes continuation with "can proceed" and provides a detailed contrast with "even under those circumstances".

FAQs

How can I correctly use "can do however" in a sentence?

The phrase "can do however" is grammatically incorrect. To express a contrast, use "can do, however," with a comma, or rephrase the sentence. For example, "We "can help"; however, we need more information".

What's a better way to say "can do however"?

Instead of "can do however", try "can do, however,", "can still do though", or restructure your sentence to use conjunctions like 'but' or 'yet' for clarity.

Is "can do however" grammatically correct?

No, "can do however" is not grammatically correct. The correct usage involves adding a comma: "can do, however,". Grammatical errors undermine clarity and professionalism. Ensure you include the comma or rephrase the sentence for better readability.

Which is the correct phrase: "can do however" or "can do, however"?

"Can do, however" is the correct phrase. The comma is essential for grammatical accuracy. Without the comma, the phrase lacks proper structure. Ensure the comma is included.