however than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "however than" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be a confusion of two separate phrases, "however" and "than," which serve different grammatical functions. Example: "I would prefer to go to the beach; however, the weather is not suitable."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This year's crowd covered less area, however, than that throng.

The New York Times

Nothing was stranger, however, than the meeting with the Taliban.

The New Yorker

There's more to it, however, than snob appeal.

The New York Times - Tech

Nothing disturbs them more now, however, than Mr. Black's comedy.

The New York Times - Arts

It is rather smaller, however, than the NSA.

The Guardian

Much less is known about Euclid, however, than about Moses.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"The widow's mandate" was always more complicated, however, than that sobriquet suggested.

The New Yorker

Scarcely have we touched it, however, than it disillusions us completely.

The New Yorker

Much more is at stake, however, than fairness for one individual.

The New York Times

They are less interesting, however, than five egg tempera-on-canvas paintings also on view.

The New York Times - Arts

Lerner focuses less on these big projects, however, than on the smallest details of sustainable planning.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "however than" in formal writing. Use alternatives like "however" or "but" followed by a comparative structure for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

A common mistake is to blend "however" with comparative structures, resulting in incorrect phrasing. Instead of "however than", use "however" to introduce a contrast and "than" to make a comparison. For example, use "However, it is smaller than..." instead of "However than..."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "however than" is used to express contrast and comparison, but does so grammatically incorrectly. Ludwig AI indicates that this is not correct English. The word "however" functions as a transitional adverb, while "than" is used for comparisons.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Encyclopedias

12%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Arts

5%

Tech

3%

Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while frequently found across various sources, including news and media, the phrase "however than" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. It attempts to combine the contrasting function of "however" with the comparative function of "than", but it doesn't form a valid grammatical structure. Instead, writers should opt for alternatives like "however" followed by a comparative clause, or use conjunctions like "but", "yet", or "nevertheless" for clearer and more accurate writing. Using "however" in conjunction with a comparative sentence that utilizes "than" is the best way to correct this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but

This alternative offers a direct and simple contrast.

yet

This alternative provides a simpler way to express contrast.

nevertheless

This alternative is a formal way to express contrast or concession.

nonetheless

Similar to 'nevertheless', this phrase expresses contrast despite a previous statement.

in contrast

This alternative introduces a comparison that highlights differences.

despite this

This phrase highlights a contrast despite a preceding statement.

on the other hand

This phrase introduces a contrasting point of view or fact.

conversely

This indicates a reversal or opposition in a comparison.

by comparison

This alternative shows how one thing differs when compared to another.

even so

This phrase concedes a point but introduces a contrasting factor.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "however than" in a sentence?

Replace "however than" with either just "however" to introduce a contrast, or restructure the sentence to use "than" correctly for comparison. For example, "However, it is smaller than..." is correct.

What's the difference between using "however" and "but"?

"However" is typically used to introduce a more significant contrast and often sets the stage for a more detailed explanation, while "but" is a simpler, more direct way to introduce a contrasting element. Both can effectively replace "however than".

What are some formal alternatives to "however than"?

Formal alternatives to "however than" include "nevertheless", "nonetheless", and "in contrast". These options provide a more sophisticated way to express contrast in academic or professional writing.

Is "however than" ever correct in English?

No, the phrase "however than" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It appears to be a combination of two separate grammatical structures used incorrectly. It's best to avoid using this phrase.