Cool MateBut one day vs Nonetheless
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
But one day
Top 2,000 (common)
Nonetheless
Top 2,000 (common)C1adverb
| But one day | Nonetheless | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bʌt wʌn deɪ//🇺🇸 //bʌt wʌn deɪ// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌnʌnðəˈles/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌnʌnðəˈles/"]/ |
| Meaning | A phrase used to introduce a story or change in events. | In spite of that; however. |
| Example | But one day, everything changed when the storm hit the village. | The book is too long but, nonetheless, informative and entertaining. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | but one day my life changed, but one day everything went wrong, but one day she left | nonetheless acknowledge, nonetheless consider, nonetheless important |
| Antonyms | - | therefore, consequently |
| Common mistakes | Using it in formal academic writing., Placing it in the middle of sentences instead of at the start., Confusing it with 'however' or other conjunctions. | Using 'nonetheless' where 'but' would suffice., Misplacing 'nonetheless' within a sentence., Confusing 'nonetheless' with 'nevertheless'; both are similar but 'nonetheless' is slightly more formal. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in storytelling to indicate a turn or pivotal moment. It's suitable for informal and formal narratives but might feel out of place in direct, factual writing. | Use 'nonetheless' to contrast or show that something is true despite what has been said. More common in written English; less suitable for casual spoken conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: But one day vs Nonetheless
What's the difference between But one day and Nonetheless?
But one day: A phrase used to introduce a story or change in events. Nonetheless: In spite of that; however.
Can you show an example of each?
But one day: But one day, everything changed when the storm hit the village. Nonetheless: The book is too long but, nonetheless, informative and entertaining.
Can I use But one day and Nonetheless interchangeably?
Not always. But one day and Nonetheless are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.