however luckily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "however luckily" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when you want to express a contrast or an unexpected positive outcome, but it is better to separate the two ideas for clarity. Example: "The weather was terrible; however, luckily, the event was still a success."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

However, luckily historians do have second world war anniversaries, real or otherwise, to mark instead.

The Guardian - Books

However, luckily for you, I happen to be a quack.

Forbes

Physical examination revealed fullness over the anterior aspect with a bilateral flattened contour of the shoulders below the tip of the acromion; however, luckily, the patient did not suffer from any neurological or vascular injuries (Fig. 1).

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

However, luckily for women viewers hungry for revenge, Elaine takes her frustration out on the suitors themselves.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

He called the "Single Ladies" performance "a memorable TV moment", and wrote that Quinn's pregnancy was a "very soap opera plotline" however commented: "luckily Glee is the kind of show to handle it with humor".

Wikipedia

Luckily, however, it was a mild case.

The New York Times

Luckily, however, this has nothing to do with free speech.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Luckily, however, there were still savages and barbarous peoples.

The New Yorker

Luckily, however, his son has excellent taste in trainers.

The Guardian - Film

Luckily, however, there were people like Martin Luther King who refused to stay quiet.

The New York Times

Luckily however, the driver reportedly managed to escape just moments before the car fell.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer more common and accepted alternatives like "but fortunately" or "yet fortunately" for smoother and more professional writing.

Common error

Avoid using "however luckily" repeatedly, as it can make your writing sound unnatural. Vary your sentence structure and use different conjunctions and adverbs to express contrast and positive outcomes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "however luckily" functions as an adverbial conjunction, connecting two clauses while indicating both a contrast and a fortunate outcome. Ludwig suggests separating the two ideas for better clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "however luckily" expresses a contrast followed by a fortunate outcome. Ludwig AI notes that this phrasing can be awkward and suggests using alternatives like "but fortunately" or separating the clauses for clarity. While grammatically acceptable, it's best reserved for informal contexts or when a slightly unconventional tone is desired. Its frequency is rare, appearing mainly in news and media sources. Prioritize clarity and use more common alternatives for smoother, more professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but fortunately

A more common and straightforward alternative for expressing contrast and a positive result.

yet fortunately

Similar to "but fortunately" but with a slightly more formal tone.

fortunately though

Switches the order to emphasize the fortunate aspect more directly.

luckily nevertheless

Reverses the order, emphasizing the luck despite the preceding situation.

fortunately however

Reorders the phrase while keeping both elements present.

as luck would have it, though

More idiomatic, emphasizing chance alongside the contrasting element.

by a stroke of luck, however

Highlights the role of chance in the positive outcome.

in a fortunate turn, however

Emphasizes the unexpected positive change, then contrasts it.

happily though

A less formal way to express a positive outcome after a contrasting situation.

things turned out well, however

Shifts the focus to the final outcome while still acknowledging the contrast.

FAQs

Is "however luckily" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, "however luckily" is an unusual phrase. It's generally better to use clearer alternatives like "but fortunately" or "yet fortunately".

What's a more formal way to say "however luckily"?

More formal alternatives include phrases like "nevertheless fortunately" or separating the ideas into two sentences for enhanced clarity.

How can I make a sentence with "however luckily" sound less awkward?

Try rephrasing the sentence to emphasize either the contrast or the fortunate outcome. For example, "The situation was difficult; luckily, however, we succeeded" could be improved to "The situation was difficult; however, we luckily succeeded" or, even better, split into two distinct clauses.

When is it appropriate to use "however luckily"?

While not recommended for formal writing, "however luckily" might be acceptable in informal contexts where a slightly quirky or unconventional tone is desired. However, prioritizing clarity is typically better.