definitely however

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "definitely however" is not correct and does not work well in written English.
It is generally used to express a contrast or contradiction, but the combination of "definitely" and "however" is awkward and redundant. Example: "I definitely, however, believe that we should reconsider our approach."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It was definitely, however, a love-in.

The Economist

She is definitely, however, the only inept performer in Thunderbird's annual event at Theater for the New City, presented as a two-hour evening powwow and as a 90-minute family matinee.

The New York Times

"I was expecting to be criticized and seen, definitely, however I was not expecting to get death threats, stalked, or insulted in such a scale.

Vice

The roles of SOCS3-KIR mutant were observed definitely, however the potential interaction as we presumed between the exogenous SOCS3-KIR mutant and PYK2 was not detected.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Charlton Heston's Soylent Green is definitely still on, however, being set in 2022 (spoiler alert: we end up having to eat each other).

The Guardian - Film

Update: From Galligan regarding the classic games: "Those apps are definitely still being released, however, not under the Crash Corp name.

TechCrunch

What it definitely is, however, is gripping drama.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

What she definitely loathes, however, is the state.

The Guardian - Books

Switzerland most definitely are however, meaning Iceland or Slovenia have a shot at the play-offs.

The Guardian - Sport

While not the ideal job for an MBA graduate, it reinforces my belief that there is definitely hope (however dim at the moment) if you continue to persevere.

The Economist

It would definitely help, however, to share a belief that a life in the theater is a worthy calling, and that a fresh new musical — however insignificant — is something worth cheering.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "definitely however" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically accepted alternatives like "certainly, but" or "undoubtedly, yet" for better clarity and flow.

Common error

Avoid stacking adverbs like "definitely" and "however" in an attempt to add emphasis. This often results in awkward phrasing. Instead, focus on choosing stronger verbs or rephrasing the sentence for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "definitely however" functions as an adverbial conjunction, attempting to add emphasis while introducing a contrast. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, this construction is generally considered grammatically awkward and less effective than alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "definitely however" attempts to combine emphasis with contrast, it is generally considered grammatically awkward and less effective. Ludwig AI flags this phrase as not correct, and its rarity suggests that writers should opt for clearer alternatives such as "certainly, but" or "undoubtedly, yet". Although present in some news and scientific articles, its usage is infrequent. For clearer and more impactful writing, consider rephrasing sentences to avoid this construction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

certainly, but

Replaces the adverb "definitely" with "certainly" and separates the contrasting idea with "but", creating a more standard construction.

undoubtedly, yet

Uses "undoubtedly" to convey certainty and "yet" to introduce a contrast, providing a more polished alternative.

indeed, however

Swaps "definitely" with "indeed", keeping "however" but resulting in a slightly more formal tone.

assuredly, nevertheless

Replaces both words to create a more formal and emphatic contrasting statement.

absolutely, still

Emphasizes the first part of the statement with "absolutely" while using "still" to indicate the contrast.

without a doubt, even so

Offers a stronger affirmation upfront and introduces the contrast with "even so".

positively, nonetheless

Substitutes with "positively" to maintain a sense of certainty, and "nonetheless" for contrast.

emphatically, despite that

Uses "emphatically" to show strong agreement, and introduces a contrast with "despite that".

most certainly, even though

Rephrases to emphasize certainty using "most certainly", then contrasts with "even though".

unquestionably, be that as it may

Replaces with a more formal construction to indicate certainty and contrast.

FAQs

Is "definitely however" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "definitely however" is generally considered grammatically awkward and not preferred in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "certainly but" or "undoubtedly yet".

What are some alternatives to "definitely however"?

Alternatives include "certainly but", "undoubtedly yet", or rephrasing the sentence to use a single, stronger contrasting word.

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

While not recommended, if you intend to use a similar construction, ensure the emphasis on "definitely" is intentional and that "however" smoothly introduces a contrast. It's generally clearer to separate the ideas. Prefer "assuredly, nevertheless".

Why is "definitely however" considered awkward?

The combination of "definitely" and "however" can sound redundant and disrupt the flow of the sentence. "Definitely" asserts certainty, while "however" signals a contrast; placing them together can create an unclear emphasis.