however better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "however better" is not correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "however" is a conjunctive adverb that does not pair with "better" in this way. Example: "The new model is, however, better than the previous one."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

There are, however, better days than others.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

However, better weather was forecast for the weekend.

The Guardian

This was, however, better than the £141m to £151m expected by the market.

The Guardian - Business

There is, however, better reason to hope now than for some time.

The New York Times - Sports

It is still early in the procurement process, however better links would have obvious benefits.

The Economist

However, better co-ordination of course admissions with the provision of practice placements remains the missing piece of the puzzle.

The Guardian

I can't, however, better the description of New York critic Frank Rich who called Shepard's play an "indoor rodeo".

The Guardian

There was, however, better news on that front from the Australian division of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.

The Guardian

Clearly, however, better access to birth control and sex education has made significant impacts on unwanted pregnancies.

The New Yorker

By the 1960s, however, better quality ore from Brazil and Sweden was the raw material of choice.

The Economist

The results were, however, better than expected.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical precision, avoid using "however better". Instead, restructure your sentence to use "however" as a conjunctive adverb properly. For example, instead of "However better the design is...", write "However, the design is better...".

Common error

A common mistake is to use "however better" in an attempt to emphasize a contrast and improvement simultaneously. This construction is grammatically awkward. Instead, ensure "however" correctly connects two contrasting ideas; prioritize clarity by separating the contrasting element with a comma and restructuring the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "however better" functions as an attempt to combine a conjunctive adverb ("however") with a comparative adjective ("better"). However, as Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is not grammatically correct in standard English. The intended function is usually to express contrast and improvement simultaneously.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

39%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "however better" appears frequently in various contexts, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. Its intended purpose is to express contrast and improvement, but it's better to use grammatically sound alternatives like "nevertheless improved" or restructure sentences to use "however" correctly. Usage spans from formal scientific writing to more neutral news articles. Despite its common occurrence, adhering to correct grammar enhances clarity and credibility in writing. It is better to avoid it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nevertheless improved

Emphasizes the improvement despite a previous condition, using a stronger contrastive conjunction.

on the other hand superior

Presents the superiority as an alternative perspective, highlighting a different aspect.

yet more effective

Indicates increased effectiveness as a contrast to a previous method or result.

in contrast, enhanced

Highlights the enhancement by directly contrasting it with a previous state.

conversely, a step up

Presents the improvement as a step forward, using "conversely" to show opposition.

even so, advanced

Acknowledges a prior condition but emphasizes the advanced nature of the current state.

despite this, refined

Highlights the refinement despite an existing issue, showing improvement through detail.

be that as it may, upgraded

Acknowledges a previous state but emphasizes the upgrade that has occurred.

having said that, ameliorated

Introduces an improvement after a previous statement, using a more formal tone with "ameliorated".

that being said, a cut above

Presents the phrase as being significantly superior, using the idiom "a cut above".

FAQs

How can I correctly use "however" to show improvement?

Use "however" as a conjunctive adverb to connect two contrasting ideas, ensuring the sentence is grammatically sound. For example, "The initial results were disappointing; however, "better outcomes" were observed in the subsequent trials".

What are some alternatives to "however better" that convey a similar meaning?

Alternatives include "nevertheless improved", "on the other hand superior", or "yet more effective". These phrases offer clearer and more grammatically correct ways to express contrast and improvement.

Is "however better" grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "however better" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing. It's best to rephrase the sentence for clarity and correctness, using alternatives like those suggested above.

How does the placement of 'however' affect the meaning of a sentence?

The placement of "however" is crucial for clarity. When used to contrast two ideas, it should typically follow a semicolon or a period, or be set off by commas. Incorrect placement, such as in "however better", can obscure the intended meaning and weaken the sentence's structure.