then however

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "then however" is not standard in written English and may create confusion.
It can be used when transitioning between contrasting ideas, but it is better to separate the two elements for clarity. Example: "I wanted to go for a walk; then, however, it started to rain."

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Then, however, performance collapsed.

The New York Times

Since then, however, nada.

The Guardian

Then, however, the problems began.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

By then, however, he had dropped out.

The New York Times - Magazine

Since then, however, his efforts have foundered.

The New York Times

Since then, however, relations have been transformed.

The Economist

Since then, however, dissatisfaction has spread.

The Economist

Since then, however, his support has eroded.

The Economist

By then, however, it was too late.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Since then, however, attendance has steadily dropped.

The New York Times - Sports

Since then, however, advertising has plummeted.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity and smoother reading, separate "then" and "however" with a comma and consider placing "however" at the beginning of the clause.

Common error

Avoid using "then however" repeatedly within a short passage. Vary your transitional phrases to prevent the writing from sounding monotonous and awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "then however" functions as a transitional phrase to introduce a contrast or unexpected development following a chronological sequence. Ludwig examples show it connecting prior actions or states with subsequent, often opposing, outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "then however" is a conjunction phrase used to introduce a contrast following a sequence of events. While common, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples, it can sometimes sound awkward and may benefit from rephrasing. Ludwig AI highlights that separating "then" and "however" can sometimes improve clarity. Alternatives such as "but then" or restructuring the sentence are often preferable for smoother writing. The phrase is primarily found in news and media contexts and carries a neutral register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but then

Reverses the order, emphasizing the contrast more directly.

however, then

Swaps the order for a slightly different emphasis.

yet then

Emphasizes the contrasting element with "yet".

even so, then

Introduces a sense of unexpected continuation despite a potential obstacle.

nonetheless, then

Highlights the continuation despite a preceding statement.

still, then

Implies a degree of surprise that the second event still occurred.

after that, though

More informal, indicating a sequence with a contrasting element.

subsequently, however

More formal, indicating a sequence of events with a contrast.

in contrast, then

Directly highlights the contrast in the sequence.

on the other hand, then

Introduces an alternative perspective before continuing the sequence.

FAQs

How can I use "then however" in a sentence?

Use "then however" to introduce a contrast or unexpected turn of events following a previous statement. For example: "I planned to go to the beach; then however, it started raining."

What can I say instead of "then however"?

Alternatives include "but then", "however then", or "yet then", depending on the desired emphasis and flow of your writing.

Is it grammatically correct to use "then however"?

While not strictly incorrect, the construction "then however" can sometimes sound awkward. It's often clearer and more stylistically effective to use "but then" or to rephrase the sentence for better flow.

What's the difference between "then however" and "however, then"?

The difference is subtle but lies in emphasis. "Then however" emphasizes the sequence of events followed by a contrast, while "however, then" gives slightly more weight to the contrasting element itself.