Cool MateHowever vs Thing is though
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
However
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Thing is though
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: HoweverMost common: However
| However | Thing is though | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/haʊˈevə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/haʊˈevər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðə θɪŋ ɪz ðoʊ//🇺🇸 //ðə θɪŋ ɪz ðoʊ// |
| Meaning | but; shows contrast between two ideas. | The important point is |
| Example | He was feeling bad. He went to work, however, and tried to concentrate. | The movie was interesting. The thing is though, it was quite long. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | however, you should, however, it is important, however, I believe | the thing is though, the thing is, the main thing is, the thing about, the best thing is |
| Antonyms | 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. | Used in overly formal contexts., Omitted 'is' when speaking., Misplaced emphasis, making it sound awkward. |
| 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. | Used in spoken English to emphasize a point or contrast. It's casual and might not be suitable for formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: However vs Thing is though
What's the difference between However and Thing is though?
However: but; shows contrast between two ideas. Thing is though: The important point is
Which is more formal: However and Thing is though?
However is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: However and Thing is though?
However is the most common in everyday English.
Can I use However and Thing is though interchangeably?
Not always. However and Thing is though 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.