Cool MateBut vs Nevertheless
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
But
High-frequency chunkA1conjunction
Nevertheless
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Most common: But
| But | Nevertheless | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/bət//bʌt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/bət//bʌt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌnevəðəˈles/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌnevərðəˈles/"]/ |
| Meaning | Used to show contrast or exception. | In spite of that; however. |
| Example | I wanted to go, but it started to rain. | There is little chance that we will succeed in changing the law. Nevertheless, it is important that we try. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | conjunction | adverb |
| Collocations | but I thought, but what about, but still, but then, but also | nevertheless, she persisted, nevertheless, it remains, nevertheless, we continue |
| Antonyms | and, or | therefore, consequently |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'but' with 'and' when showing contrast., Starting a sentence with 'but' in very formal writing., Using a comma before 'but' when the clauses are very short. | Used interchangeably with 'however' without understanding context differences., Omitted or misused in informal speech., Confused with 'nonetheless'. |
| Usage notes | 'But' is used to connect two contrasting ideas. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written English but may sound abrupt in very formal writing. | Often used to introduce a contrasting statement or to show that something is true despite what has just been said. It's more common in written English, and may seem too formal in casual spoken contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: But vs Nevertheless
What's the difference between But and Nevertheless?
But: Used to show contrast or exception. Nevertheless: In spite of that; however.
Which is more common: But and Nevertheless?
But is the most common in everyday English.
Are But and Nevertheless the same CEFR level?
But: A1, Nevertheless: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use But and Nevertheless interchangeably?
Not always. But and Nevertheless 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.