is unknown however

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is unknown however" is not correct as it lacks proper punctuation and structure.
It can be used to indicate that something is not known, but it should be rephrased for clarity, typically with a comma before "however." Example: "The cause of the phenomenon is unknown; however, researchers continue to investigate."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It can be much harder to identify what is unknown, however even acknowledging that there are unknowns is an important step in decision making.

Yale University

The religious beliefs that underpinned these vast works is unknown, however, as is the purpose of the Brodgar temples.

The Guardian

It is unknown, however, how synfire chains can form in local neural circuits, especially for long chains.

Yale University

It is unknown, however, whether this structural degeneration translates into aberrant neuronal function.

Neuron

It is unknown, however, whether the surgeons important opinion makers about their profession are indeed dissatisfied.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons

It is unknown, however, how the observed quantity of labile P is affected by the release of variable P species.

Geoderma

The true number of injured is unknown, however, and may be even higher, said Alonzo Glenn Suson, the ACILS country director.

The Guardian

Clearly the extent of his injuries is unknown, however, we do not believe either attack caused the suspect to bleed, contrary to reports circulating in the media.

The Guardian

Life span in the wild is unknown; however, some captive animals have lived as long as 20 years.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Whether medusae overwinter at the same depth as polyps is unknown, however, they temporally co-occur with polyps through all seasons.

Nature

During the life of an organism, there may be changes in the lipid composition of some membranes; the physiological significance of these age-related changes is unknown, however.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use a comma or semicolon before "however" when it interrupts a clause. For example, "The cause is unknown; however, research continues."

Common error

Avoid using "however" directly after "is unknown" without a preceding comma or semicolon. This creates grammatically incorrect sentences that can confuse readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is unknown however" functions as a connector, attempting to link the statement of something being unknown with a subsequent, often contrasting, clause. However, it requires proper punctuation (comma or semicolon before "however") to be grammatically correct. Ludwig AI indicates that this direct phrasing is not correct without proper punctuation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

49%

News & Media

22%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "is unknown however" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig AI points out that it's generally considered grammatically incorrect due to the lack of proper punctuation. To use it correctly, always include a comma or semicolon before "however". More professional alternatives include "remains unclear; however,", or ""is not known", but". The phrase is most commonly found in Science and News & Media contexts. Remember to prioritize grammatical accuracy for clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remains unknown, though

Replaces "is unknown however" with a phrase that places emphasis on the continued state of being unknown.

is not known, but

Offers a more direct and grammatically standard way to express the unknown nature of something while introducing a contrasting point.

it is, however, not known

Inverts the structure slightly for emphasis, maintaining the core meaning.

yet its nature is unclear

Replaces the whole expression by highlighting the unclear nature of the subject in question.

the answer remains elusive, but

Substitutes with a more figurative expression indicating the difficulty in finding an answer.

the truth remains concealed, although

Emphasizes the hidden aspect of the information, suggesting it's deliberately obscured.

its origins are a mystery, yet

Uses 'mystery' to express the unknown nature, adding a sense of intrigue.

the details are still vague, but

Highlights the lack of specific information, focusing on the ambiguity.

further research is needed to clarify, but

Introduces the need for more investigation to address the lack of knowledge.

despite ongoing investigations, it's still uncertain

Acknowledges efforts to understand while reaffirming the current uncertainty.

FAQs

What's the proper way to use "is unknown however" in a sentence?

The phrase "is unknown however" is grammatically incorrect. A correct way would be to use a comma or semicolon before "however", like: "The cause is unknown; however, research is ongoing." Alternatively, you could say "The cause "is not known", but research is ongoing".

What can I say instead of "is unknown however" to sound more professional?

To sound more professional, replace "is unknown however" with phrases like "remains unclear; however,", "is not yet understood, but" or "further investigation is required; nevertheless,". These alternatives add clarity and sophistication to your writing.

Is it always wrong to use "is unknown however"?

Yes, the direct phrase "is unknown however" is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to the missing punctuation before the conjunction "however". Always include a comma or semicolon before "however" when it connects two independent clauses.

How does the meaning change if I use "is unknown, but" instead of "is unknown; however"?

While both "is unknown, but" and "is unknown; however," convey a similar meaning, the semicolon in "is unknown; however" creates a stronger separation between the two clauses. Using ", but" implies a slightly closer relationship or contrast than "; however".