rough start but

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rough start but" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a situation that began poorly but may improve or have a positive outcome. Example: "We had a rough start but managed to turn things around by the end of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Our conversation got off to a rough start, but then it began to seem as though he understood me.

The New Yorker

"It will be a rough start, but I think within the next six weeks to two months, we will be able to repatriate some," Mr. Amin said.

The New York Times

C. C. Sabathia got off to a rough start, but was able to settle down, at one point retiring 13 consecutive batters, as the bench carried the Yankees to an 8-3 victory against the Minnesota Twins.

The New York Times - Sports

Joel Peralta is off to a rough start but is the superior pitcher, although Manager Joe Maddon is smart, which might lead to Peralta's being used in higher-leverage situations while Rodney is saved for the easier role in the ninth inning.

The New York Times

"I think he had a bit of a rough start, but he came back and did really well for England.

BBC

The love hate relationship between Wall Street and bitcoin has seen a rough start, but it is only beginning.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"You watch Diana today and you know why UConn was so good and why so many players want to come here and end up getting better," said the UConn freshman Ann Strother, who had a rough start today but came up with a key late basket and scored 10 points.

The New York Times - Sports

"Definitely I was a little bit nervous in the start, and it was rough start for me, but I think I'm very happy about it," Kuznetsova said.

The New York Times - Sports

Founded in 2004 with its inaugural season the following year, Chivas had a rough start under Thomas Rongen but eventually succeeded under future US national team coach Bob Bradley and two-time MLS MVP Preki, who eventually led the team to a Western Conference win in 2007.

The Guardian - Sport

Small tech stocks have had a rough start in 2008, but I think they are destined to rebound sometime this year.

Forbes

QUARTERBACK QUESTIONS Chad Henne is still the Miami Dolphins' quarterback, even after a rough start to the preseason, but the rookie Colin Kaepernick will get his shot to compete with Alex Smith for the San Francisco 49ers' starting job.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rough start but" to acknowledge initial challenges before highlighting subsequent improvements or positive changes. It adds nuance and credibility to your narrative.

Common error

Avoid consistently using "but" after phrases like "rough start". Vary your sentence structure with alternatives such as "however", "yet", or restructuring the sentence to emphasize the positive outcome first.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rough start but" functions as a transitional conjunction, connecting an initial negative situation (a "rough start") with a contrasting, often positive, development. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, indicating its acceptance and appropriate use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rough start but" is a usable and grammatically sound phrase that functions as a transitional conjunction, indicating an initial challenge followed by a change or improvement. Ludwig AI confirms this usage. While it is not overly formal, it is most frequently found in news and media contexts. To enhance writing, it's advisable to vary sentence structure and explore synonyms like "difficult beginning nevertheless" to avoid overuse of "but". Understanding its function and contexts, along with being mindful of common errors, will empower you to use the phrase effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult beginning nevertheless

Emphasizes the hardship at the start more strongly while still indicating a transition.

challenging outset yet

Replaces "rough" with "challenging" and "but" with "yet", maintaining a similar connotation.

rocky start however

Uses "rocky" instead of "rough" to describe the beginning and "however" instead of "but".

tough opening still

Substitutes "tough" for "rough" and uses "still" to indicate the contrast.

bumpy start although

Replaces "rough" with "bumpy" and "but" with "although", offering a slightly less harsh tone.

inauspicious beginning nonetheless

Uses a more formal tone, replacing "rough" with "inauspicious" and "but" with "nonetheless".

unpromising start even so

Highlights the lack of initial promise, using "even so" to show the contrast.

shaky start yet

Describes the start as "shaky", indicating instability, while "yet" replaces "but".

unfavorable beginning but subsequently

Breaks the phrase by using subsequently and adding even more emphasis on the contrast.

adverse commencement however

Employs more formal vocabulary, substituting "adverse" for "rough" and "commencement" for "start", with "however" replacing "but".

FAQs

How can I use "rough start but" in a sentence?

Use "rough start but" to introduce a situation that began with difficulties and then improved. For example, "The project had a "rough start but" we managed to deliver it on time".

What are some alternatives to "rough start but"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult beginning nevertheless", "challenging outset yet", or "rocky start however", depending on the specific context.

Is it okay to use "rough start but" in formal writing?

While acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "inauspicious beginning nonetheless" or "adverse commencement however" for a more polished tone in formal contexts.

How does the phrase "rough start but" compare to "smooth start and"?

"Rough start but" implies initial problems followed by improvement, whereas "smooth start and" suggests an easy beginning that continues positively. They are opposites in terms of the initial phase.