Cool MateBut one day vs However vs Nonetheless vs Still
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
But one day
However
Nonetheless
Still
| But one day | However | Nonetheless | Still | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bʌt wʌn deɪ//🇺🇸 //bʌt wʌn deɪ// | 🇬🇧 /["/haʊˈevə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/haʊˈevər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌnʌnðəˈles/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌnʌnðəˈles/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/stɪl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/stɪl/"]/ |
| Meaning | A phrase used to introduce a story or change in events. | but; shows contrast between two ideas. | In spite of that; however. | not moving; quiet |
| Example | But one day, everything changed when the storm hit the village. | He was feeling bad. He went to work, however, and tried to concentrate. | The book is too long but, nonetheless, informative and entertaining. | She is still waiting for her friends to arrive. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 | C1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | adverb | |
| Collocations | but one day my life changed, but one day everything went wrong, but one day she left | however, you should, however, it is important, however, I believe | nonetheless acknowledge, nonetheless consider, nonetheless important | still water, still life, still waiting, still standing |
| Antonyms | - | therefore, consequently | therefore, consequently | yet, already |
| Common mistakes | Using it in formal academic writing., Placing it in the middle of sentences instead of at the start., Confusing it with 'however' or other conjunctions. | 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. | 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 notes | Commonly used in storytelling to indicate a turn or pivotal moment. It's suitable for informal and formal narratives but might feel out of place in direct, factual writing. | 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. | 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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Frequently asked questions: But one day vs However vs Nonetheless vs Still
What's the difference between But one day, However, Nonetheless, and Still?
But one day: A phrase used to introduce a story or change in events. However: but; shows contrast between two ideas. Nonetheless: In spite of that; however. Still: not moving; quiet
Which is more advanced: But one day, However, Nonetheless, and Still?
Nonetheless is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
But one day: But one day, everything changed when the storm hit the village. However: He was feeling bad. He went to work, however, and tried to concentrate. Nonetheless: The book is too long but, nonetheless, informative and entertaining. Still: She is still waiting for her friends to arrive.
Can I use But one day, However, Nonetheless, and Still interchangeably?
Not always. But one day, However, 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.