if notwithstanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "if notwithstanding" is not correct and does not work well in written English.
It is a contradictory expression, as "if" implies a condition while "notwithstanding" suggests an exception, making it confusing. Example: "If notwithstanding the rules, you choose to proceed, you do so at your own risk."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Cheney behaved as if, notwithstanding the loss of the popular vote, conservative Republican domination could continue by sheer force of will.

The New Yorker

But what if, notwithstanding the occasional humanist fable like "E.T.," all those movies and television programs have been inculcating a potentially toxic form of interplanetary prejudice?

The New York Times

More germane to this study, we wondered if, notwithstanding its diversity, the 1,281 experimental fragment library would miss chemotypes that might be prioritized by docking a much larger library of commercially available fragments.

ACS Chemical Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

If there are no true propositions no facts—or even false propositions to be found at the level of reference, but if also, notwithstanding that lack, the world is located there, the objects it contains will be bare objects, not things of certain sorts.

SEP

Wouldn't you be more likely to fight for your country, rotten leader notwithstanding, if the invading country came with promises of democracy but had a poor track record of keeping promises?

The New York Times

After all, Bible-believers notwithstanding, if you eat and wear animals and agree that it's O.K. to torture them in the name of science and beauty, what's the big deal?

The New York Times

"At the end of it all, their deportation could still be prevented, since their lawyers will claim they face torture or death if returned home, notwithstanding the assurances Britain receives from Middle Eastern countries".

The Guardian

My respect for Sir Ernest notwithstanding, if I had known that such a stash was at my feet it is highly unlikely that those commemorative crates would have still been peddled all those years later at Heathrow.

The New Yorker

Ageism notwithstanding (if you can't bag a 10 at age 38, perhaps you couldn't at age 28 either), there are flaws to her philosophy.

Forbes

So, Australia's position on Syria notwithstanding, if the mother of four had been on her way to give camo gear and money to a husband who supported the Assad regime, she might have been on firmer legal ground.

Vice

And Rubio's rosary beads notwithstanding, if Republicans expect to win enough Latino votes just because they brand themselves as the party of faith and family, they better check their cultural calculus.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using simpler alternatives such as "even if" or "although" to express condition and concession more clearly.

Common error

A common error is attempting to combine the conditional nature of "if" with the concessive nature of "notwithstanding". This creates a grammatically unsound and semantically confusing phrase. Instead, use conjunctions that clearly convey both condition and concession such as "even if".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if notwithstanding" attempts to function as a conjunction, introducing a conditional element while also indicating an exception or disregard for something. However, this combination is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for formal writing, as also stated by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "if notwithstanding" is a grammatically incorrect and confusing construction that should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms its unsuitability. Although attempts to use it may be found in some news or scientific articles, as shown by Ludwig, it's better to opt for clearer and grammatically sound alternatives like "even if", "although", or "regardless of whether". These alternatives effectively convey the intended meaning of combining a condition with an exception. Prioritizing grammatical correctness and clarity will enhance the quality and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even if

Replaces "notwithstanding" with a simpler conditional conjunction, making the sentence grammatically correct.

although

A more concise way to express the same contrast as "even though".

even though

Offers a direct alternative to express contrast and condition simultaneously.

regardless of whether

More explicitly conveys the idea of something being true or happening irrespective of the condition.

despite the fact that

Highlights the contrast between the condition and the outcome.

irrespective of whether

Emphasizes that something remains the same, no matter what the condition is.

in spite of the condition that

Similar to 'despite the fact that', but emphasizes the condition aspect.

no matter if

A more informal way of saying "regardless of whether".

even with

Highlights that something remains despite something else happening.

despite

A very concise alternative.

FAQs

Is the phrase "if notwithstanding" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "if notwithstanding" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The construction combines a conditional conjunction ("if") with a term of exception ("notwithstanding") in a way that creates a confusing and non-standard grammatical structure.

What can I use instead of "if notwithstanding"?

Alternatives to "if notwithstanding" include "even if", "although", "despite the fact that", or "regardless of whether". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

How does "even if" differ from "if notwithstanding"?

"Even if" is a grammatically sound way to introduce a condition that does not change the main point of the sentence. "If notwithstanding" attempts to combine a conditional statement with a statement of exception, which is grammatically awkward and generally avoided. "Even if" something is true, the main point remains valid.

Is "notwithstanding if" a better alternative than "if notwithstanding"?

While "notwithstanding if" might seem slightly more logical, it is still not a standard or grammatically correct phrase. It's always better to opt for clear and common alternatives like "even if" or other similar constructions to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness.