so nevertheless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "so nevertheless" is not correct and is generally not usable in written English.
The word "so" and "nevertheless" convey similar meanings of contrast, making their combination redundant. Example: "The weather was terrible; nevertheless, we decided to go hiking."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

But we continued to do so nevertheless.

The Guardian

"So, nevertheless, if you are in favor or against the Kyoto Protocol, you have to take action," he said.

The New York Times

Technically, the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR, is not responsible for protecting and assisting these individuals but it has traditionally done so nevertheless.

The Guardian

Individuals do so nevertheless because they reap the benefits in the short term, but the community pays the costs of depletion in the long term.

Encyclopedia Britannica

So nevertheless, even having given you that historical example, we're going to come back and we'll look later on in the class at a model in which politicians cannot choose their positions, but, rather, you know their positions ahead of time.

Yale University

What these shocks of humanity do is make you forget, as the play begins, that you already know the shape of the rest: how the daughter who loves Lear cannot say so and is thus disinherited, how the two daughters who say so nevertheless betray him at the earliest opportunity.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

We found this ratio to be significantly lower in the PI and less so (but nevertheless still significantly so) in the non-PI groups.

BMC Clinical Pathology

That small battle in eastern Kentucky, underappreciated at the time and even more so today, nevertheless confirmed some larger realities.

The New York Times

Australia and Antarctica do not have ceratosaur remains so far4, nevertheless it is possible that this group was present there and future discoveries can change this scenario.

Nature

After the program began, women seeking abortions in Iowa tended to do so earlier; nevertheless, the over-all abortion rate in the state declined.

The New Yorker

And our marriage so complete". Nevertheless, simply in noting the duration and nature of each of Virginia's episodes of mental illness, Glendinning conveys the immense burden that fell upon Leonard.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "so nevertheless" in your writing. Opt for more concise and grammatically accepted alternatives like "nevertheless", "however", or "even so".

Common error

Do not combine "so" with "nevertheless". They both serve similar conjunctive functions, making the combination redundant and stylistically awkward. Choose one or the other for clearer writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so nevertheless" attempts to function as a conjunctive adverb, aiming to introduce a contrasting or qualifying statement. However, due to its redundant nature, as pointed out by Ludwig AI, it fails to serve this function effectively. It's primarily used to link two clauses, indicating a contrast, but does so awkwardly.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

40%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "so nevertheless" is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to its redundant nature. Ludwig AI highlights that both "so" and "nevertheless" serve similar conjunctive functions, making their combination awkward and unnecessary. While examples can be found in various sources, including news articles and academic texts, it is best to opt for clearer, more concise alternatives such as "nevertheless", "however", or "even so". Avoiding "so nevertheless" will improve the clarity and style of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nevertheless

Omits "so", resulting in a grammatically sound and commonly used conjunction to introduce a contrasting point.

even so

Replaces "nevertheless" with "even so", providing a slightly more informal but equally valid expression of contrast.

nonetheless

Substitutes a single word for the entire phrase, maintaining a formal tone and similar meaning.

however

Offers a direct and simple alternative, replacing the entire phrase with a single, widely accepted conjunction.

all the same

Presents a more colloquial option to indicate that something is still true despite what has been said.

in spite of that

Uses a prepositional phrase to clearly indicate a contrast, providing a more explicit connection between ideas.

despite that

Similar to "in spite of that", but slightly more concise, indicating a contrast or concession.

be that as it may

Introduces a more formal and literary alternative, suggesting a degree of acceptance despite reservations.

yet

Offers a brief and direct conjunction to introduce a contrasting element.

still

Provides a concise way to show contrast, highlighting that something continues to be true despite previous information.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "so nevertheless"?

No, the phrase "so nevertheless" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The word "so" and "nevertheless" convey similar meanings of contrast or concession, making their combination redundant. It is best to choose one or the other, or use a different conjunction altogether.

What can I use instead of "so nevertheless"?

You can use single-word alternatives like "nevertheless", "however", or "nonetheless". Alternatively, you could use phrases like "even so" or "despite that" depending on the context.

Why is "so nevertheless" considered redundant?

Both "so" and "nevertheless" function as conjunctions that introduce a contrast or concession. Using them together is similar to saying the same thing twice, making the sentence unnecessarily wordy and stylistically poor.

Are there any situations where "so nevertheless" might be acceptable?

While some examples can be found in published works, "so nevertheless" is generally discouraged in formal writing. It's better to opt for clearer, more concise alternatives to maintain grammatical correctness and stylistic clarity.