therefore however

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "therefore however" is not correct and usable in written English as it combines two contrasting conjunctions that do not logically fit together.
You cannot use it in standard writing because it creates a contradiction in meaning. Example: "The project was successful; therefore however, we need to address some issues moving forward."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The new tall-building books and shows in New York are, therefore, however outwardly optimistic, surely inwardly elegiac.

The New Yorker

No individual or class, therefore, however superior... can claim an absolute right to impose its view of the good upon them.

The New Yorker

Therefore, however parallel, the algorithm still will require more time at more particles.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

for all polynomials p. Therefore, However, t → ||(e it ||M z || - M z )-1|| is continuous on [0, 2π] and so it should be constant, say c1.

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

Therefore, however causal closure ultimately enters into Anomalous Monism (see the supplement on Causal Closure of the Physical and Anomalous Monism), it does not appear to create any further problems for Anomalous Monism's ability to account for the ineliminable, irreducible explanatory role of mental properties.

SEP

Therefore, however new the wineskins, readers of popular evangelical apologetics end up drinking some version of that sound old Oxford vintage.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The assumption that the frequency of sites of each type is the same as the frequency of the amino acids in modern proteins is therefore important; however this still seems reasonable to me, and I do not see a better alternative assumption that could be made.

Biology Direct

"Instead of saying that mandates are therefore banned, however, Justice Kennedy would require the government to show some special circumstances justifying the mandate in each case.

The New York Times

Sufficient data on the durability of adhesive glass-metal connections subjected to environmental factors is therefore essential, however, not always available.

Engineering Structures

Electron transfer almost always results in diminished Eu emission quantum yields, and is therefore undesirable; however, it is usually not taken into consideration during complex design.

Coordination Chemistry Reviews

Building trust is therefore required; however, previous experience shows that this needs sufficient time for counselling and coaching (see Knuth et al. 2014 and Boockmann/Brändle 2015).

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "therefore however" in formal writing. Choose a single, clear conjunction like "nevertheless" or restructure the sentence for clarity.

Common error

Don't use "therefore however" as a shortcut when you need to show both a consequence and a contradiction. Instead, clarify the relationship between the ideas with separate sentences or a more precise connector such as "nonetheless" or "even so".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "therefore however" is a conjunction phrase that attempts to link two clauses or ideas. However, it is considered grammatically incorrect because the conjunctions "therefore" and "however" express opposing relationships (cause/effect versus contrast), creating a logical inconsistency as Ludwig AI explains.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "therefore however" is generally considered grammatically incorrect due to the conflicting nature of the conjunctions "therefore" and "however". Ludwig AI highlights that "therefore" indicates a consequence, while "however" indicates a contrast, making their combination logically flawed. While it may appear in diverse sources, using clearer alternatives like "nevertheless" or restructuring the sentence is advisable for improved clarity and precision. It appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts. When aiming to express both cause and contrast, it's important to prioritize grammatical correctness and clarity by opting for more appropriate conjunctions or sentence structures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nevertheless

Focuses solely on the contrasting aspect, omitting the causal implication.

nonetheless

Similar to "nevertheless", it emphasizes the contrast without the direct cause-and-effect.

even so

Indicates a concession followed by a contrasting statement.

in spite of that

Highlights the contrast by specifying that something occurs despite a preceding fact.

despite this

Similar to "in spite of that", but more concise.

consequently, on the other hand

Explicitly presents the cause-and-effect and contrasting viewpoints separately.

thus, a contrasting view exists

More descriptive, making it clear that a contrasting opinion is present after a previous statement.

accordingly, yet...

Combines a causal connector with a contrasting one for a structured expression.

for this reason, but...

Clearly states the reason before introducing a contrasting element with "but".

that being said

Serves as a transition to introduce information that contrasts with or limits what was said before.

FAQs

Why is "therefore however" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "therefore however" combines two conflicting conjunctions. "Therefore" indicates a consequence, while "however" indicates a contrast. Using them together creates a logical contradiction. According to Ludwig, this combination is considered incorrect and should be avoided.

What are some alternatives to "therefore however" that I can use in my writing?

Instead of "therefore however", you can use single conjunctions like "nevertheless", "nonetheless", or "even so", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Alternatively, you can restructure your sentence to separate the cause and the contrast more clearly.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "therefore however"?

While generally discouraged in formal writing, you might encounter "therefore however" in informal contexts or when a writer is attempting to express both a consequence and a contradiction in a single phrase. However, it's best to avoid using it yourself and instead opt for clearer alternatives.

How can I correct a sentence that uses "therefore however"?

To correct a sentence using "therefore however", identify whether you primarily want to emphasize the consequence or the contrast. Then, replace the phrase with a single, more appropriate conjunction like "therefore", "however", "nevertheless" or restructure the sentence for better clarity.