do not but

USAGE SUMMARY

"do not but" is not correct or usable in written English.
However, the phrase "do not only" may be used in written English. For example, "Do not only listen to what I am saying, but take action."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They do not, but I find one elsewhere.

The New York Times

I do not, but polarised arguments are not the answer.

The Guardian - Books

Dr. Prendini's scorpion images do not, but he thinks they have aesthetic value as well.

The New York Times - Science

Most do not, but for me England is the only country worth trying to reach.

Independent

They do not, but they have talc-free body powder ($16).

The New Yorker

We do not, but we live and die under white supremacy.

The Guardian - Opinion

"You have the cellphone bill?" "I do not, but someone else does".

The New York Times - Magazine

The memo concludes that they do not, but its most haunting passage appears in a footnote.

The Guardian - Opinion

Not that other Raiders wide receivers do not, but Rice remains among the best at it.

The New York Times - Sports

There are exhibitions I sympathize with and those I do not, but both make Museum Mind irrelevant.

The New York Times - Arts

Most do not, but seek instead, in whatever way is reasonably open to them, to participate in the life of the country they are in.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "do not but" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "however", "nevertheless", or "though" to maintain clarity and credibility.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "do not but" when intending to express a contrast or exception. Replace it with a single, appropriate conjunction such as "but", "however", or "although" for grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "do not but" attempts to function as a conjunction introducing a contrast or exception. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically incorrect. Standard English uses single conjunctions like "but", "however", or "although" to achieve this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "do not but" is frequently encountered but is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect. While it appears across various contexts, including News & Media and Science, its intended purpose is to introduce contrast or qualification. Instead of "do not but", opt for alternatives like "but not", "however", "although", or "nevertheless" to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity. Using these alternatives ensures that your writing remains clear and professional, regardless of the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however

A simple conjunction to introduce a contrasting statement.

though

Introduces a subordinate clause expressing contrast.

although

Similar to "though", but slightly more formal.

but not

Reverses the order, emphasizing the negative aspect first.

yet

Introduces a contrasting element after a statement.

nevertheless

Implies a contrast despite a preceding statement.

instead

Indicates a substitution or replacement.

except

Indicates an exclusion or exception.

rather

Suggests a preference or alternative.

on the contrary

Expresses direct opposition to a previous statement.

FAQs

Is "do not but" grammatically correct?

No, "do not but" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Use alternatives like "but not", "however", or "although" instead.

What can I use instead of "do not but"?

You can use alternatives such as "but not", "however", "nevertheless", or "although" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "do not but" or "but not"?

"But not" is the correct phrase. "Do not but" is not standard English.

What's the difference between "do not but" and "however"?

"However" is a conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has already been said. "Do not but" is not a standard or grammatically correct way to express contrast; use ""however"" instead.