this was however

USAGE SUMMARY

"this was however" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use this phrase to transition between two contrasting ideas. For example: "The conference was poorly attended. This was, however, offset by a strong turnout at the evening event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was, however, not quite accurate.

Harvard University

This was, however, just the rebuttal Rembar was hoping for.

The New York Times

This was, however, a mere slap on the wrist.

The New York Times

This was, however, thoughtfully if somewhat literally done.

The Guardian - Music

This was however to prove even more disastrous.

The Guardian

This was, however, the Cavaliers' earliest and most painful exit.

The Washington Post

This was, however, a more sombre offering than you'd expect.

Independent

This was, however, especially strong in the US, although note was certainly taken elsewhere.

Princeton University

This was, however, better than the £141m to £151m expected by the market.

The Guardian - Business

This was, however, neither a partisan election nor one that broke naturally along party lines.

The New Yorker

This was, however, a better ratio than in France, Russia and Japan.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "this was however", ensure the surrounding sentences are clearly related to the contrasting points. This helps maintain coherence and prevents confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "this was however" when a simple conjunction like 'but' or 'yet' would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this was however" functions as an adverbial phrase, connecting two contrasting clauses or sentences. It indicates a shift in thought or a qualification of a previous statement, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

6%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this was however" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that functions as an adverbial connector to introduce a contrasting or qualifying statement. As Ludwig AI points out, it's effective for bridging opposing ideas across various contexts, especially in News & Media, Science, and Academia. When writing, you can use it to signal a twist, exception, or nuance following an initial claim. While useful, be mindful of overusing it and consider simpler alternatives like 'but' for conciseness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yet this was

Reverses the order of the original phrase while maintaining the contrast.

however, this happened

Rephrases the sentence to start with 'however', emphasizing the contrast directly.

despite this

Uses a prepositional phrase to introduce the contrasting element.

in spite of this

Similar to 'despite this', but offers a slightly more formal tone.

even so, this occurred

Emphasizes the contrast with 'even so', indicating a surprising turn of events.

still, this was

Uses 'still' to indicate that the second part of the statement holds true despite the first.

nevertheless, this was

A more formal way of introducing a contrasting statement.

nonetheless, this was

Similar in meaning to 'nevertheless', but slightly less common.

conversely, this was

Highlights a direct opposite or contrasting situation.

on the other hand, this was

Introduces an alternative perspective or outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "this was however" in a sentence?

Use "this was however" to introduce a contrasting or qualifying statement to something previously mentioned. For example: "The project faced numerous challenges. "This was however", offset by the team's unwavering dedication."

What are some alternatives to "this was however"?

Alternatives include "yet this was", "despite this", or "nevertheless this was". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is "this was however" considered formal or informal?

"This was however" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It is suitable for academic, news, and professional writing. Simpler alternatives like "but" may be preferred in very informal contexts.

What's the difference between "this was however" and "however"?

"However" can be used more flexibly, often at the beginning of a sentence. "This was however" specifically refers back to a preceding statement, creating a direct contrast. For example, you might say "However, the results were inconclusive" or "The experiment had some flaws. "This was however", not apparent until later analysis."