Cool MateHowever vs Nonetheless
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
However
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Nonetheless
Top 2,000 (common)C1adverb
Most common: However
| However | Nonetheless | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/haʊˈevə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/haʊˈevər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌnʌnðəˈles/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌnʌnðəˈles/"]/ |
| Meaning | but; shows contrast between two ideas. | In spite of that; however. |
| Example | He was feeling bad. He went to work, however, and tried to concentrate. | The book is too long but, nonetheless, informative and entertaining. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | however, you should, however, it is important, however, I believe | nonetheless acknowledge, nonetheless consider, nonetheless important |
| Antonyms | therefore, consequently | therefore, consequently |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'how ever' which means in what way., Omitting a comma before 'however' when it starts a sentence., Using 'however' inappropriately in very casual contexts. | 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 | Use 'however' to introduce a contrasting idea in a sentence. It's suitable in both spoken and written English but more common in formal writing. Avoid using it at the beginning of informal conversations. | 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. |
Frequently asked questions: However vs Nonetheless
What's the difference between However and Nonetheless?
However: but; shows contrast between two ideas. Nonetheless: In spite of that; however.
Which is more common: However and Nonetheless?
However is the most common in everyday English.
Are However and Nonetheless the same CEFR level?
However: A1, Nonetheless: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use However and Nonetheless interchangeably?
Not always. However 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.