however of course

USAGE SUMMARY

"however of course" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to express the idea that something is true even though it may seem contradictory or counterintuitive. For example, "I was skeptical of the new policy, however of course I still followed it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

However, of course the city needs offices.

The Guardian

However, of course this was not an entirely fair process.

Yale University

However, of course, Paine made it very clear how revealed religion stood truth on its head while natural philosophy, or science he seems to have believed, might potentially discover the true nature of a Creator in, well, Nature.

The New York Times

It will, however, of course, be understood that we only ascribe universal education to one who in his own individual person is thus critical in all or nearly all branches of knowledge, and not to one who has a like ability merely in some special subject.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

However, of course this is not the core point of blogs which write about tech.

TechCrunch

However, of course, there remain several problems we need to solve to apply P2P multicast to mobile networks.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

The biggest draw of New Super Mario Bros. Wii however is of course the multiplayer mode.

Independent

The person most responsible for Earl, however, is of course his mother, whose marriage to Kgositsile fell apart about a decade ago.

The New Yorker

The best guide to the future, however, is of course Tony Blair's memoir, A Journey (Arrow, £9.99).

Independent

Some version of that method would almost certainly wipe out current bank shareholders, however, and of course, it smacks of, gulp, socialism.

The New Yorker

However, and of course unbeknownst to Lizzie at the time, it was the monopolist rules that would later capture the public's imagination.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "however of course" to gently introduce a contrasting point that might seem obvious or already understood, but still needs to be stated for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "however of course" too frequently, as it can make your writing sound repetitive or condescending. Consider alternative transition phrases for variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "however of course" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase. It connects two clauses or sentences, indicating a contrast or concession, while simultaneously acknowledging something that is already known or obvious. As seen in Ludwig AI, this dual function aims to soften the contrast.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "however of course" functions as a conjunctive phrase that introduces a contrast while acknowledging a pre-existing understanding. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically sound but appears more frequently in News & Media, Science and Academia, suggesting a neutral register. When using this phrase, remember to introduce contrast while also highlighting that the following point may be somewhat obvious. If overused, the phrase can sound repetitive; consider alternatives like "nevertheless naturally" to vary your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however certainly

Retains "however" for contrast but uses "certainly" as a more direct replacement for "of course".

nevertheless naturally

Replaces "however" with "nevertheless" to emphasize contrast, and "of course" with "naturally" to highlight the obvious nature of the statement.

nonetheless obviously

Similar to "nevertheless naturally", but using "nonetheless" and "obviously" for a slightly different nuance.

even so undoubtedly

Uses "even so" to show contrast and "undoubtedly" for emphasis.

be that as it may certainly

A more formal alternative, "be that as it may" introduces the contrast, while "certainly" affirms the obviousness.

that being said plainly

"That being said" signals a shift in thought, and "plainly" underscores the self-evident aspect.

despite that evidently

"Despite that" indicates contrast, and "evidently" denotes the obvious nature of the conceded point.

in spite of that clearly

Similar to "despite that evidently" but with slightly different word choices.

all the same manifestly

"All the same" introduces a contrasting statement, and "manifestly" emphasizes the obviousness.

regardless assuredly

"Regardless" signals a contrast and "assuredly" indicates confidence in the stated fact.

FAQs

How can I use "however of course" in a sentence?

"However of course" is used to introduce a statement that contrasts with a previous one, while acknowledging that the contrasting statement might be obvious or already known. For example: "The project faced numerous challenges; however of course, the team persevered".

What phrases can I use instead of "however of course"?

You can use alternatives like "nevertheless naturally", "nonetheless obviously", or "even so undoubtedly" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to use "however of course" in formal writing?

Yes, "however of course" is grammatically correct and can be used in formal writing, although it is generally more suitable for contexts where a slightly less formal tone is acceptable. Consider the formality of your audience.

What's the difference between "however" and "however of course"?

"However" introduces a direct contrast, while "however of course" introduces a contrast with an acknowledgment of something already known or understood. The latter softens the contrast slightly.