oops but

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "oops but" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to acknowledge a mistake or an unexpected situation before introducing a contrasting point or correction. Example: "Oops but I forgot to mention that the meeting has been rescheduled to next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Oops, but then she decided that a "Charlie's Angels" remake would be a good idea.

The New York Times - Magazine

Oops! "But of course," she amended, "I love them to death".

The New York Times

Oops, but the rope breaks, and the man falls to the ground in a heap.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

We haven't even got to the opening credits, and we've had manual woodland sex, interrupted, oops, but an arrival nevertheless, I believe.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Rick Perry slunk out with an "oops," but his most damaging lapse was to blurt that only people without "a heart" would treat as criminals the blameless children of immigrants without papers.

The New Yorker

Many are statistics freaks, coldly reducing everything to weird acronyms like WHIP, VORP and OOPS, but as Ken Davidoff writes in The New York Post, the magic of Dickey is that he won over both constituencies.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Jordan's offensive arsenal does not expand much beyond finishing alley-oops, but he often ends those in spectacular fashion.

The New York Times - Sports

Sometimes I cross step, sometimes I cutback and sometimes, if I am lucky, I land the coolest alley-oop, but there is never a dull moment.

Huffington Post

Indeed, if it wants to keep trading with the EU, it will have to accept many of the EU's rules, as Switzerland knows well.It is interesting that London, the most globalised part of the UK, has been relatively immune to Ukip's appeal (a spokeswoman said they struggled to attract the "educated, cultured and young", not quite an "oops" moment but pretty revealing).

The Economist

Oops again, but this mistake turns out to be a profitable one because, while she's waiting at a stoplight in a car that looks suspiciously like it wasn't smashed a mere episode ago, Carrie realizes that Roya's Arabic tirade included a reference to the fact that Nazir wouldn't run.

Huffington Post

If if slips out, that can count as an "oops!" moment, but don't make it a habit.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "oops but" to acknowledge a minor error or oversight before presenting a contrasting or qualifying statement. It's particularly effective in informal or conversational contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "oops but" in formal writing or professional communications. It can come across as unprofessional. Opt for more formal alternatives like "however", "nevertheless", or rephrase the sentence to avoid the interjection altogether.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "oops but" functions as a discourse marker or an interjection followed by a conjunction. It acknowledges a minor error or realization before introducing a contrasting or qualifying statement. Ludwig examples demonstrate this pattern in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "oops but" is a common phrase used to acknowledge a minor error or unexpected situation before introducing a contrasting or qualifying statement. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct. It's generally considered informal, best suited for casual conversations and less formal writing, like news articles or blog posts. When writing formally, consider alternatives such as "however" or "nevertheless". The phrase is frequently used in News & Media. The "aiResponseStatus" field from Ludwig confirms the correctness and usability of the expression in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Oops, but then

Adds emphasis to the sequence of events, highlighting the unexpected turn.

Oops, still

Uses "still" instead of "but" for a simpler, more direct contrast.

Oops, however

Replaces "but" with "however", maintaining the contrast but sounding slightly more formal.

My bad, but

Replaces "oops" with "my bad" for a more informal tone while retaining the contrastive function of "but".

Oops, yet

Substitutes "but" with "yet", offering a slightly more literary or emphatic contrast.

Oops, nevertheless

Replaces "but" with "nevertheless", emphasizing the contrast despite the preceding mistake.

Oops, despite that

Replaces "but" with "despite that", emphasizing that what follows is unexpected in light of the initial error.

Oops, even so

Replaces "but" with "even so", indicating that what follows is surprising given the error.

Oops, on the other hand

Replaces "but" with "on the other hand", introducing a contrasting perspective or fact.

Oops, be that as it may

Introduces a more formal and concessive tone than the original phrase.

FAQs

How can I use "oops but" in a sentence?

You can use "oops but" to introduce a contrasting thought after acknowledging a minor mistake. For example, "Oops but I forgot to mention that the meeting has been rescheduled."

What's a more formal alternative to "oops but"?

If you're looking for a more formal alternative, consider using "however", "nevertheless", or "even so" instead of "oops but".

Is it appropriate to use "oops but" in academic writing?

No, "oops but" is generally considered too informal for academic writing. Use more formal transitions such as "however" or "nevertheless".

What's the difference between "oops but" and "sorry but"?

"Oops but" acknowledges a mistake, while "sorry but" expresses regret. You'd use "oops but" when you've made an error, and "sorry but" when you're delivering bad news or disagreeing.