often but not always

USAGE SUMMARY

"often but not always" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something is generally true, but not without exception. For example, "It is often sunny in California in the summer, but not always."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That often – but not always – leads to a recall.

The New York Times

I will be sad often but not always".

The New York Times - Books

It is often, but not always, adult in nature.

The Guardian

They are often but not always associated with thunderstorms or strong rains.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Often, but not always, their reason is anchored in religious belief.

The New York Times

The agency often, but not always, follows the advice of its outside experts.

The New York Times

Advisory committee votes are often, but not always, followed by the agency.

The New York Times

When assets are bought and sold, it often (but not always) receives investment-banking commissions.

The Economist

Often, but not always.

The New York Times - Magazine

The two quantities are often, but not always, positively correlated.

Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids

The step often, but not always, leads to trial.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "often but not always", ensure the context clarifies the situations where the statement does not hold true. This adds precision and prevents misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid using "often but not always" as a way to hedge without providing any specific context or conditions. Always aim to provide some indication of when the statement might not be true to maintain clarity and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "often but not always" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate frequency with a caveat. It introduces nuance, acknowledging that a particular action, state, or condition typically occurs but not universally. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "often but not always" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to qualify statements and acknowledge exceptions. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. It is particularly common in scientific and news-related writing, helping to prevent overgeneralizations and ensure accuracy. When using this phrase, it's best to provide context about the situations where the statement might not hold true. While there are alternative phrases like "frequently, yet not invariably", "often but not always" provides a clear and straightforward way to express a general truth with acknowledged exceptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

frequently, yet not invariably

Replaces common words with more formal synonyms; maintains the same core meaning.

commonly, though not universally

Substitutes "often" with "commonly" and "always" with "universally" to convey a similar idea.

generally, but with exceptions

Uses a more direct approach to express the concept of something being true in most cases.

typically, but not without exception

Employs "typically" to denote a usual occurrence, while acknowledging exceptions.

more often than not, however not invariably

Expresses a higher likelihood while still accounting for possible deviations.

usually, albeit not constantly

Replaces "often" with "usually" and "always" with "constantly", maintaining a similar meaning.

in many cases, though not exclusively

Highlights the frequency of occurrence without claiming absolute exclusivity.

as a rule, though exceptions exist

States a general principle while admitting the possibility of deviations.

it's common, but there are exceptions

Simplifies the expression into a straightforward statement about commonality and exceptions.

oftentimes, yet not definitively

Uses "oftentimes" as a synonym for "often" and contrasts it with a definitive statement.

FAQs

How can I use "often but not always" in a sentence?

Use "often but not always" to indicate something is generally true but has exceptions. For example, "The agency "often", but not always, follows the advice of its outside experts."

What's a formal alternative to "often but not always"?

A more formal alternative is "frequently, yet not invariably". It maintains a similar meaning but uses more sophisticated vocabulary.

Is it redundant to say "often but not always"?

While it might seem redundant, "often but not always" emphasizes that something is usually true but explicitly acknowledges exceptions, which can be useful for clarity.

What's the difference between "usually" and "often but not always"?

"Usually" implies a higher probability than "often". "Often but not always" highlights the exceptions, whereas "usually" focuses on the norm.