unfortunately for now

USAGE SUMMARY

"unfortunately for now" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express disappointment or regret about a current situation or circumstance. Example: Unfortunately for now, we are unable to offer refunds for this product.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Unfortunately for now, monetary policy is the only game in town.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, for now, that's not quite how PublicStuff works, at least not in New York.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, for now we are limited in our ability to check his madness.

The New York Times

But unfortunately, for now, I don't think it's an idea whose time has come — not yet, in any case.

The New York Times

"Unfortunately for now, we will not be able to provide web client to our iOS users due to Apple platform limitations," said WhatsApp in a blog post.

The Guardian - Tech

Legia's attempt to have the decision overturned was rejected, giving Celtic their reprieve, and prompting Legia's owner Dariusz Mioduski to write on Twitter: "Unfortunately for now football is not winning … We are going to CAS".

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

But unfortunately, as for now, our data also follow the trend of having few women in the area.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Unfortunately this year, for now, we have a concert in Europe planned [that night]..

Huffington Post

"When the feminist revolution comes, that will be the world, but unfortunately, for right now, it isn't".

The New York Times

And unfortunately for people now contemplating retirement, the math on tapping one's nest egg has rarely looked so daunting.

Los Angeles Times

Unfortunately for lobbyists, "Now almost everyone in the country has become a self-appointed campaigner," as Bethell said in a 2011 interview.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unfortunately for now", ensure that the context clearly indicates that the situation is expected to change in the future. This sets the right expectation for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "unfortunately for now" if there's no realistic expectation of the situation improving. If the situation is likely permanent, consider using a more definitive expression of regret or acceptance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unfortunately for now" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a statement by expressing regret or disappointment about a current situation. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates that the situation is expected to change in the future.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Social Media

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unfortunately for now" is a common adverbial phrase used to express regret or disappointment about a temporary situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable in a variety of contexts. It’s frequently found in news and media, formal business communications, and scientific articles. When using this phrase, ensure that the context implies a reasonable expectation of future change. If the situation is likely permanent, consider using a more definitive expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regrettably at present

Replaces "unfortunately" with "regrettably" and "for now" with "at present", maintaining a formal tone but altering the specific word choices.

sadly in the meantime

Substitutes "unfortunately" with "sadly" and "for now" with "in the meantime", keeping a similar sentiment with a slight shift in temporal focus.

disappointingly for the present

Substitutes "unfortunately" with "disappointingly" and "for now" with "for the present", emphasizing the feeling of disappointment.

it is regrettable in the interim

Uses a more formal structure, replacing "unfortunately" with "it is regrettable" and "for now" with "in the interim", increasing the formality of the expression.

alas for the time being

Uses "alas" instead of "unfortunately" to express sorrow and replaces "for now" with "for the time being", resulting in a more literary or archaic feel.

unhappily at this moment

Replaces "unfortunately" with "unhappily" and "for now" with "at this moment", slightly emphasizing the immediate timeframe.

unluckily just now

Replaces "unfortunately" with "unluckily" and "for now" with "just now", providing a slightly more informal tone.

sadly as things stand

Expresses regret with "sadly" and indicates the current situation with "as things stand", offering a slightly more descriptive tone.

it's a pity currently

Rephrases the sentiment as "it's a pity" to express regret, followed by "currently" to indicate the temporary nature of the situation.

bad news for the moment

Simplifies the phrase to "bad news" to convey the negative aspect, followed by "for the moment" to indicate its temporary nature.

FAQs

How can I use "unfortunately for now" in a sentence?

"Unfortunately for now" is typically used to express disappointment or regret about a current situation that is expected to change. For example, "Unfortunately for now, the feature is only available on iOS devices".

What can I say instead of "unfortunately for now"?

You can use alternatives like "regrettably at present", "sadly in the meantime", or "alas for the time being" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to include both "unfortunately" and "for now"?

While they often appear together, using only "unfortunately" or indicating the temporary nature separately is also acceptable. The combination emphasizes both the regret and the expected change.

What's the difference between "unfortunately for now" and "unfortunately"?

Adding "for now" to "unfortunately" specifies that the undesired situation is temporary. Without it, the statement expresses general regret without implying a change is expected.