Simply vs There's nothing but

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

Simply

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 adverb

There's nothing but

Top 2,000 (common)

Most common: Simply

	Simply	There's nothing but
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɪmpli/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɪmpli/"]/	🇬🇧 //ðɛrz ˈnʌθɪŋ bʌt// 🇺🇸 //ðɛrz ˈnʌθɪŋ bʌt//
Meaning	in a straightforward way	There is only this and no other options.
Example	You can simply follow the instructions to complete the task.	There's nothing but silence in the empty room.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B1	-
Part of speech	adverb
Collocations	simply say, simply put, simply amazing, simply stated, simply because	there's nothing but trouble, there's nothing but time, there's nothing but excuses
Antonyms	complicated, complex	-
Common mistakes	Using 'simply' in overly complex sentences., Confusing 'simply' with 'just' in different contexts., Misplacing 'simply' in a sentence, making it unclear.	Using 'There's nothing but' in a positive context., Misplacing the phrase in a sentence, resulting in unclear meaning.
Usage notes	Use 'simply' to emphasize clarity or to say something in an easy way. It’s neutral, so it can be used in various contexts, but avoid in formal writing when discussing complex topics.	Commonly used in negative contexts to emphasize a lack of diversity or alternatives. Suitable for both spoken and written English.

See it in real clips

Top Gear › S1 E1

Then we simply fold the seats down,

simply because he knew how to handle a knife.

Sherlock › S1 E1

This petty feud between us is simply childish. People will suffer.

Top Gear › S1 E1

Then we simply fold the seats down,

simply because he knew how to handle a knife.

Simply

Breaking Bad › S1 E3

There's nothing but chemistry here.

There's nothing but

Frequently asked questions: Simply vs There's nothing but

What's the difference between Simply and There's nothing but?

Simply: in a straightforward way There's nothing but: There is only this and no other options.

Which is more common: Simply and There's nothing but?

Simply is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Simply: You can simply follow the instructions to complete the task. There's nothing but: There's nothing but silence in the empty room.

Can I use Simply and There's nothing but interchangeably?

Not always. Simply and There's nothing but 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.