is but not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'is but not' is not a valid part of a sentence.
It is not used in formal written English.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Love is, but not sex.

The Guardian - Music

Surprised, that is, but not appalled.

The New York Times

She is, but not in the manner of Bridget Jones.

The New York Times - Arts

And sometimes it is, but not the kind of radical act he's imitating.

The New York Times - Arts

Geddy answered: "From their perspective it is, but not from ours.

The Guardian - Music

One thinks of Christmas as being jolly, and often it is, but not always throughout history.

The New York Times - Arts

"Schussel thinks he's quick, intelligent and smooth, and he is, but not enough.

The New York Times

"This is still an inexpensive place for what it is, but not anything like that".

The New York Times

It is, but not in the sense of rendering a verdict on it, for or against.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Indeed he is -- but not just to the 1950's, or even the 1850's.

The New York Times - Books

A: He is... but not really all that often, which makes his second billing a bit suspect.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "is but not" as a standalone phrase. Ensure it's part of a complete sentence for grammatical correctness. For example, "The idea is interesting, but not practical."

Common error

Do not use "is but not" as a fragment. Always ensure it's connected to a main clause to form a complete thought. A common mistake is using it as a short, choppy response, which lacks clarity and grammatical integrity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is but not" functions as a connector indicating contrast or qualification. Ludwig AI indicates that while frequently found in text, "is but not" alone is not grammatically correct and needs to be part of a larger clause to convey meaning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "is but not" appears frequently in various contexts, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect when used in isolation. It serves to introduce a contrast or qualification to a preceding statement. To ensure clarity and grammatical correctness, "is but not" should always be integrated into a complete sentence. News & Media sources show a greater prevalence of its use, though it is not common in formal writing. Alternatives such as ""is however not"" and ""is though not"" can offer more grammatically sound alternatives while maintaining a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is, however, not

Adds emphasis through the use of "however", indicating a stronger contrast.

is, though not

Employs "though" for a more informal and subtle contrast.

is, yet not

Uses "yet" to suggest a contrast that is somewhat surprising or unexpected.

is, but it doesn't

Expands the phrase to explicitly state what the subject does not do or is not.

is, but that doesn't mean

Introduces a consequence or implication that does not necessarily follow from the initial statement.

is, although it doesn't

Similar to "but it doesn't", but uses "although" for a slightly more formal tone.

is, on the other hand, not

Presents a direct contrast by introducing another perspective.

is, conversely, not

Similar to "on the other hand", indicating a reversal or opposition.

is, in contrast, not

Highlights a clear difference between two things.

is, but it's not like

Introduces a caveat or exception to the initial statement.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the phrase "is but not" in a sentence?

The phrase "is but not" should always be part of a larger sentence structure to be grammatically correct. For example, you can say, "The movie is entertaining, but not very original" or "He is talented, but not always reliable."

What are some alternatives to "is but not" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "is however not", "is though not", or "is yet not". These alternatives provide similar contrasting meanings while maintaining better grammatical structure.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "is but not"?

No, it is not grammatically correct to start a sentence with "is but not". This phrase requires a preceding clause to make sense and be grammatically sound. Starting a sentence this way results in a sentence fragment.

How does the meaning change when using "is however not" instead of "is but not"?

Using "is however not" instead of "is but not" adds a stronger emphasis to the contrast. "However" signals a more significant divergence or qualification than a simple "but".