is anything but

USAGE SUMMARY

"is anything but" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something is the opposite of what you had expected or could be imagined. For example: "The sight of their poor living conditions was anything but encouraging."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is anything but.

Forbes

He is anything but.

Independent

He is anything but that.

The Economist

Leeds is anything but flagging.

The Economist

It is anything but inspiring.

The New York Times

Inishfree is anything but Eden.

The New York Times

It is anything but shy.

The New Yorker

The second is anything but.

The New York Times - Arts

Bark is anything but brown.

The New York Times

She is anything but conventional.

The New York Times

The subject is anything but.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is anything but" to create emphasis and surprise by stating what something is definitively not, rather than what it is. For example, "The experience was anything but relaxing."

Common error

Avoid using "is anything but" when a simple negation suffices. This phrase is strongest when highlighting a stark contrast or unexpected outcome, not merely stating a lack of something. Don't say, "The weather is anything but sunny" when you simply mean "The weather is not sunny."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is anything but" functions as a negative predicative expression, strongly denying an attribute or quality. It's used to emphasize the contrast between what might be expected and the actual reality. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is anything but" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to emphatically deny a particular attribute. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, serving to highlight contrasts and unexpected situations. While versatile, it's best employed when a strong negation is desired, rather than a simple lack. Alternatives like "is far from" or "is not at all" can offer similar emphasis. The phrase is considered neutral in register, making it appropriate for a wide range of writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is far from

Emphasizes distance from a particular state or quality.

is not at all

Highlights the complete absence of a quality.

is the opposite of

Directly states the contradictory nature.

couldn't be more different from

Stresses a high degree of dissimilarity.

is hardly

Indicates a minimal presence or likelihood.

bears no resemblance to

Highlights the lack of similarity or connection.

is a far cry from

Emphasizes the significant difference in quality or state.

is not even remotely

Indicates that something is not close to a particular quality or state.

is the antithesis of

Points out the direct opposition between two things.

is quite the contrary

Introduces the opposite idea or situation.

FAQs

How can I use "is anything but" in a sentence?

Use "is anything but" to strongly negate an expectation or assumption. For example, "The task "is anything but simple", requiring careful planning and execution."

What are some alternatives to "is anything but"?

Alternatives include phrases like "is far from", "is not at all", or "is the opposite of", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

When should I use "is anything but" instead of a simple negation?

Use "is anything but" when you want to emphasize the contrast between what might be expected and the reality. It's more emphatic than simply saying "is not".

Is there a difference between "is anything but" and "is nothing but"?

Yes, "is anything but" negates a quality, while "is nothing but" emphasizes that something is only a particular thing. For instance, "the movie "is anything but boring"" means it's definitely not boring, whereas "the movie is nothing but boring" means it's exclusively boring.