this time however

USAGE SUMMARY

"this time however" is a perfectly correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to indicate that the situation in the current moment is different from the situation in the past. For example, "I usually avoid eating sweets, this time however I decided to treat myself to some chocolate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not this time, however.

The New York Times - Arts

This time, however, it's personal.

The New York Times - Books

This time, however, China prevailed.

The New York Times - Sports

This time, however, the market turned.

The New York Times

This time, however, the mood was different.

The New Yorker

This time, however, Tottenham could miss out.

The New York Times - Sports

This time, however, Frangilli never wavered.

The New York Times

This time, however, he stretches the point.

The Economist

This time, however, the vomiting persisted.

The New York Times

This time, however, there was a dispute.

The New Yorker

This time, however, things may be different.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this time however" to clearly signal a deviation from a previously established pattern or expectation. This helps readers understand that the current situation is an exception or a change from what was described before.

Common error

Avoid using "this time however" too frequently within a short passage. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and detract from the impact of the contrast you're trying to highlight.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this time however" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase, signaling a contrast or change from a previously stated or implied situation. It connects ideas by indicating that the current scenario differs from what might have been expected based on past occurrences. Ludwig AI confirms its role in introducing a contrast.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Encyclopedias

8%

Sport

7%

Less common in

Travel

6%

Opinion

4%

Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this time however" is a versatile conjunctive phrase used to indicate a contrast or a change from a previous situation. As Ludwig AI validates, it serves to highlight deviations or exceptions. It is frequently used in news, media, and general writing, making it a common and easily understood way to introduce a contrasting idea. To maintain clarity and avoid redundancy, it's best to use it judiciously and consider synonyms such as "on this occasion though" or "yet this time around". Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse contexts, ensuring effective communication across various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on this occasion though

Replaces "time" with "occasion", adding a slightly more formal tone.

yet this time around

Replaces "however" with "yet", keeping the overall meaning consistent.

but not this time around

Adds a sense of cyclical events, implying repetition.

however, in this instance

Substitutes "time" with "instance", providing a more specific context.

this time, conversely

Uses "conversely" to explicitly highlight the contrast.

in this case, though

Focuses on the specific case, making the contrast more immediate.

contrary to previous times

Directly contrasts the current situation with past events.

now, on the other hand

Introduces a different perspective or outcome, similar to a contrasting viewpoint.

differing from before, though

Highlights the change from a prior state or condition.

with this occurrence, though

Emphasizes the specific event as the reason for the difference.

FAQs

How can I use "this time however" effectively in a sentence?

Use "this time however" to introduce a contrast or a change from a previous situation. For example, "The team usually loses, this time however, they managed to win."

What phrases are similar to "this time however"?

Alternatives include "on this occasion though", "but not this time around", or "however, in this instance", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "this time however"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. It functions as a conjunction phrase to connect a contrasting idea to the previous statement.

What's the difference between "this time however" and "nevertheless"?

"This time however" indicates a specific change from a previous situation, while "nevertheless" ("nevertheless") introduces a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously, without necessarily referring to a specific prior event.