ostensibly nevertheless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ostensibly nevertheless" is not correct and does not work well in written English.
The term "ostensibly" means "apparently" or "seemingly," while "nevertheless" means "in spite of that." Using them together creates a contradiction that is confusing. Example: "The project was ostensibly successful; nevertheless, many issues remained unaddressed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The cluster of diplomacy, while ostensibly coincidental, nevertheless is an indication of the intensifying dialogue as the United States, Afghanistan and its neighbors begin trying to put the pieces in place for an eventual resolution to the war and angle to protect their interests in whatever regional order prevails.

The New York Times

Near-silent, unresponsive, ostensibly unappealing, she is nevertheless moving.

The Guardian - Books

A benefit of this is indeed that such additional associated genes in P would in fact be 'false negatives,' since they are ostensibly weak classifiers which nevertheless cooperate with genes in a pathway P that has had its role in the phenotype established.

Biology Direct

Published on behalf of the American Psychiatric Association and ostensibly for US clinicians, it nevertheless has an enormous global sway on how mental conditions are defined, diagnosed and treated.

The Guardian

After learning to make the discrimination with one paw (e.g., reward being given only for the pedal with the horizontal pattern), a cat that is confronted with making the same discrimination with the other front paw, which has its connections with the ostensibly "untrained" brain hemisphere, will nevertheless exhibit positive transfer.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This last sentiment is visible in several films that came out in 2016: works with ostensibly right-on politics that nevertheless betrayed a queasiness towards the modern world, towards minorities and women; films in which a fear of a new world order is palpable.

The Guardian - Film

Packed with the stereotypes it aspires to challenge, Diane Crespo and Stefan C. Schaefer's well-meaning but oblivious film presents ostensibly modern young women who are nevertheless defined solely by their faith.

The New York Times

When a committee of politicians takes a vote, abstention is still a political statement by ostensibly refusing to get involved, the abstaining politician is nevertheless stating her position.

Vice

Nevertheless, the GFP distributions arising ostensibly from the promoters specific for transcripts a or b appeared the same as when all transcripts were terminally tagged.

BMC Genomics

Workers are represented ostensibly by the Workers Housee, a state-sponsored institution that nevertheless attempts to challenge some state policies.

Britannica

Freely acknowledging that many jazz fans thought he was crazy, Harley nevertheless evolved an authentic jazz technique on an instrument ostensibly unsuited to the idiom's nervy momentum and melodic complexity.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "ostensibly nevertheless" because it creates a contradictory statement. Instead, choose a single word that accurately reflects your intended meaning, or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

Common error

Don't combine "ostensibly" and "nevertheless" in the same phrase. They express conflicting ideas; "ostensibly" indicates something appears one way, while "nevertheless" suggests reality is different. Instead, clearly separate the appearance and the actual situation in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ostensibly nevertheless" attempts to function as an adverbial modifier, aiming to express a contrast between appearance and reality. Ludwig AI explains that it is grammatically incorrect due to the contradictory nature of the terms.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Encyclopedias

11%

Science

17%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ostensibly nevertheless" is grammatically incorrect and semantically contradictory, according to Ludwig AI. While it appears in various sources, its use is generally discouraged due to its confusing nature. Instead, consider using clearer alternatives like "seemingly however" or "apparently yet" to accurately express the intended contrast between appearance and reality. Focusing on clarity and precision will enhance the effectiveness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Seemingly however

Replaces 'ostensibly' with 'seemingly' to indicate appearance, and 'nevertheless' with 'however' as a contrast.

Apparently yet

Uses 'apparently' to suggest a surface-level view, and 'yet' to introduce a contrasting reality.

On the surface but

Emphasizes the initial impression with 'on the surface' and contrasts it with 'but'.

Superficially nonetheless

Highlights a shallow understanding using 'superficially', contrasted by 'nonetheless'.

Seemingly in spite of that

Expresses an initial appearance with "seemingly", followed by "in spite of that" to introduce something unexpected.

Apparently despite that

Similar to "ostensibly nevertheless", this tries to capture the contrast, but it's clearer.

While seemingly

Highlights a shallow understanding using 'seemingly'.

Although apparently

This clearly introduces a contrast to an apparent idea.

Though ostensibly

Similar to "ostensibly nevertheless", the word order is swapped.

Even if seemingly

Expresses a condition with "even if", followed by "seemingly".

FAQs

Why is "ostensibly nevertheless" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "ostensibly nevertheless" is considered grammatically incorrect because "ostensibly" implies an apparent or superficial view, while "nevertheless" introduces a contradiction or contrast to that view. Using them together creates a redundant and confusing statement.

What are some alternatives to using "ostensibly nevertheless" in a sentence?

Instead of "ostensibly nevertheless", consider using alternatives like "seemingly however", "apparently yet", or "on the surface but" to clearly convey the intended contrast.

How can I use "ostensibly" and "nevertheless" correctly in separate clauses?

To use "ostensibly" and "nevertheless" correctly, separate them into different clauses. For example: "The project was ostensibly successful; nevertheless, many issues remained unaddressed."

Is there a specific context where "ostensibly nevertheless" might be acceptable?

No, there is no specific context where "ostensibly nevertheless" would be considered acceptable in formal writing. It is generally best to avoid this phrase due to its contradictory nature. Clarity should be prioritized over using this construction.