Nonetheless vs Still

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Nonetheless

Top 2,000 (common)C1adverb

Still

Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Most common: Still
 NonethelessStill
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˌnʌnðəˈles/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌnʌnðəˈles/"]/🇬🇧 /["/stɪl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/stɪl/"]/
MeaningIn spite of that; however.not moving; quiet
ExampleThe book is too long but, nonetheless, informative and entertaining.She is still waiting for her friends to arrive.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR levelC1A1
Part of speechadverbadverb
Collocationsnonetheless acknowledge, nonetheless consider, nonetheless importantstill water, still life, still waiting, still standing
Antonymstherefore, consequentlyyet, already
Common mistakesUsing 'nonetheless' where 'but' would suffice., Misplacing 'nonetheless' within a sentence., Confusing 'nonetheless' with 'nevertheless'; both are similar but 'nonetheless' is slightly more formal.Confused with 'steal', leading to incorrect usage., Using it in a question when it should be a statement, e.g., 'Is it still raining?' incorrectly phrased as 'Is still it raining?'., Overusing in sequences; proper placement in a sentence can be tricky.
Usage notesUse '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.Used to describe something that is not changing or happening yet. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but can sound more formal when used in written form.

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Still

Frequently asked questions: Nonetheless vs Still

What's the difference between Nonetheless and Still?

Nonetheless: In spite of that; however. Still: not moving; quiet

Which is more common: Nonetheless and Still?

Still is the most common in everyday English.

Are Nonetheless and Still the same CEFR level?

Nonetheless: C1, Still: A1 on the CEFR scale.

Can I use Nonetheless and Still interchangeably?

Not always. Nonetheless and Still 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.

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