will not but

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence The expression 'will not but' is not standard English--it is not a correct sentence.
Instead, you would use the expression "will not accept anything but" to convey a similar meaning. Here's an example sentence: I will not accept anything but the best from my employees.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Opinion polls suggest that he will not, but they have been wrong before.

The Economist

It will not but it does not need to in order to survive and blossom.

The Guardian - Sport

Thousands of people who would have received legal aid will not, but we will hear very little of their plight.

The Guardian

Some will not – but books are there to educate about the world, to explain difficult issues, to widen understanding.

The Guardian - Books

The program, Citi Bike, was supposed to begin in July; it will not, but city officials will not say when it will.

The New York Times

Ultimately, the market will determine what will succeed and what will not, but it cannot exert that power unless the choices are put before people.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Joseph F. Keiffer III, appointed by Judge Lamberth to monitor the case, concluded that "it is time to consider that the department not only will not -- but also cannot -- perform the historical accounting mandated by Congress and ordered by this court".

The New York Times

"We will not rush, but we will not rest".

The New York Times

Cases will not vanish but representation will.

The Guardian

This sounds good but will not fly.

The New York Times

But will not for all.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "will not but" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer conjunctions or rephrase the sentence for better readability.

Common error

Writers often mistakenly use "will not but" in place of a simpler contradiction. To fix this, substitute with more appropriate terms, or use a structure that doesn't require the phrase at all. For example, instead of writing "It will not but should work", consider "It should work, though it might not" for better readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will not but" functions as a conjunction, attempting to connect two contrasting ideas or clauses. However, its usage is often considered grammatically incorrect, and it is flagged as incorrect by Ludwig AI. Example sentences demonstrate the phrase's intended use in expressing a contrast, though in a non-standard way.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

22%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "will not but" appears in various sources, including news and media, its grammatical correctness is questionable. Ludwig AI flags it as incorrect, and standard English prefers alternative conjunctions like "however", "nevertheless", or rephrasing the sentence altogether. Despite its common usage, especially in informal contexts, it's advisable to avoid "will not but" in formal writing to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy. Consider using phrases like "will not however" or "will not instead" to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will not however

Replaces "but" with "however" to provide a clearer contrast.

will not nevertheless

Substitutes "but" with "nevertheless" for a more formal tone and stronger emphasis on the contrast.

will not yet

Emphasizes that something hasn't happened yet but may in the future. The conjunction "but" is dropped to reflect a change of meaning.

will not instead

Highlights an alternative action or outcome, rather than a direct contrast.

will not although

Introduces a subordinate clause that contrasts with the main clause; this provides a more complex sentence structure.

will not unless

Specifies a condition under which something will not happen.

will not even

Emphasizes the unexpectedness of the negative action or state.

will not rather

Suggests a preference for an alternative action, providing a subtle contrast.

will not except

Introduces an exception to a general statement, making the condition more specific.

will not if

Specifies a condition that prevents something from happening.

FAQs

Is "will not but" grammatically correct?

No, "will not but" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "will not however" or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

What are some alternatives to "will not but"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases such as "will not yet", "will not instead", or "will not although" to convey a similar meaning with better grammar.

How can I rephrase a sentence that includes "will not but" for better clarity?

Try breaking the sentence into two separate clauses with a clearer connector. For example, instead of "They will not but might consider it later", write "They will not consider it now, but they might later on".

What's the difference between "will not but" and "will not however"?

"Will not but" is generally grammatically incorrect. "Will not however" is a grammatically correct alternative that uses "however" to provide a smoother transition and clearer contrast.