Cool MateHowever vs The thing is though
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
However
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
The thing is though
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: However
| However | The thing is though | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/haʊˈevə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/haʊˈevər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðə θɪŋ ɪz ðəʊ//🇺🇸 //ðə θɪŋ ɪz ðoʊ// |
| Meaning | but; shows contrast between two ideas. | It's important to understand or consider. |
| Example | He was feeling bad. He went to work, however, and tried to concentrate. | I thought the movie was great, but the thing is though, the ending was confusing. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less 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, that said, the point is though, the fact is though |
| 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. | Using it with formal topics like academic writing., Forgetting to adjust tone when switching between contexts., Overusing it, making dialogue sound repetitive. |
| 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 this phrase to introduce a point that adds nuance or contrast to a previous statement. Suitable for conversations but can be used in writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: However vs The thing is though
What's the difference between However and The thing is though?
However: but; shows contrast between two ideas. The thing is though: It's important to understand or consider.
Which is more common: However and The thing is though?
However is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
However: He was feeling bad. He went to work, however, and tried to concentrate. The thing is though: I thought the movie was great, but the thing is though, the ending was confusing.
Can I use However and The thing is though interchangeably?
Not always. However and The 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.