pretexts but

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretexts but" is not correct and does not form a coherent expression in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete thought and lacks context to determine its intended meaning or usage. Example: "He offered pretexts but failed to provide a valid reason for his actions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Realizing that they had no chance of winning a majority, they procrastinated under various pretexts but eventually allowed the elections to proceed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Once again, that was the pretext, but not the actual cause.

The New York Times

On Nov. 7, Dr. Troyer invited Ms. Pendleton to his place on a pretext, but really to propose marriage.

The New York Times - Style

Don't know about the pretext, but it's always a good idea to listen to Hank Jones.

The New York Times

Before long, though, one has the sense that the colour, for all its preciousness, is a kind of pretext – but for what?

The Guardian - Books

We continue to support the most nondemocratic and repressive governments in our own self-interest under this pretext, but in the end injustice can only breed injustice.

The New York Times

Americans could raise the Stars and Stripes in their yards and sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" on the slightest pretext, but Germans had forfeited such patriotism at Auschwitz.

The New York Times

With sixty-seven mostop-drawerawer paintings, drawings, and sculptures by Picasso and sixty-six by Matisse, the show hardly needs a pretext, but it has one: a running dialogue of mutual attractions and abrasions between the twin godheads of modern painting.

The New Yorker

A long and complex process to try to remove Mr. Wahid from office began at the start of this year with corruption charges as its pretext but political power as its driving force.

The New York Times

"The girl is only a pretext, but certainly not the main cause of the crime".

BBC

The hack, which MSNBC calls pretexting but we all know as social engineering, is usually the sole provenance of 14-year-olds who call into cable company support lines and pretend to be installation techs in the field and then ask that "them tittie programs" be added to their cable connection free of charge.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "pretexts but" as it is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use a more appropriate conjunction or adverb to connect the idea of a pretext with a contrasting element, such as "pretexts, however" or "pretexts, yet".

Common error

Do not directly follow "pretexts" with "but" without proper punctuation or a more suitable connector. This can lead to grammatically incorrect and unclear sentences. Consider using alternatives like "pretexts, however" or rephrasing the sentence to avoid the issue altogether.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretexts but" functions as a connector aiming to introduce a contrast or contradiction following a statement about fabricated reasons or excuses. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically incorrect in standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

11%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pretexts but" is grammatically incorrect and rarely used in formal English. Ludwig AI indicates that the structure is flawed. While the intention is to introduce a contrast to fabricated reasons, better alternatives exist, such as "pretexts, however" or rephrasing the sentence for clarity. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase should be avoided in formal writing. Always aim for grammatically sound constructions to convey your message effectively. Using alternatives can significantly improve the clarity and correctness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excuses however

Replaces "pretexts" with "excuses" to denote less formal justifications while maintaining the contrast with "however".

allegations yet

Substitutes "pretexts" with "allegations", implying unproven claims, and "but" with "yet" to show a contrasting perspective.

claims nevertheless

Replaces "pretexts" with "claims", indicating assertions that may not be true, and "but" with "nevertheless" to stress the contrast.

ostensible reasons nonetheless

Uses "ostensible reasons" to specify that the reasons are only apparent, and "nonetheless" to highlight the contrast.

purported justifications still

Employs "purported justifications" to convey that the justifications are alleged, and "still" to maintain the contrasting idea.

superficial grounds yet

Replaces "pretexts" with "superficial grounds" to emphasize the lack of depth in the reasons, using "yet" to show contrast.

apparent motives however

Uses "apparent motives" to indicate that the motives are not necessarily real, while "however" introduces a contrasting element.

stated causes nevertheless

Replaces "pretexts" with "stated causes", implying declared but potentially false reasons, and uses "nevertheless" to show contrast.

avowed reasons still

Employs "avowed reasons" to mean openly declared reasons that may be questionable, with "still" used to maintain the contrast.

false pretenses nonetheless

Replaces pretexts with "false pretenses" meaning deceptive reasons, with "nonetheless" to introduce a contrasting element.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the word "pretexts" in a sentence?

The word "pretexts" should be followed by a comma and a conjunction like "however" or "yet" to create a grammatically sound sentence. For example: "They offered several "pretexts, however", none of which were convincing."

What are some alternatives to using "pretexts but" in a sentence?

Instead of "pretexts but", you can use phrases like "excuses, however", "allegations yet", or "stated reasons nonetheless" to convey a similar meaning with better grammatical structure.

Is it grammatically correct to say "pretexts but"?

No, "pretexts but" is not grammatically correct. It's better to use a comma before "but" or use a different conjunction altogether. Consider alternatives such as using "pretexts, yet" or rephrasing the sentence.

What is the difference between "pretexts, but" and "pretexts, however"?

While both "pretexts, but" and "pretexts, however" introduce a contrast, "however" provides a stronger sense of opposition or qualification. "Pretexts, but" is often considered less formal, while ""pretexts, however"" offers a more polished and clear transition.