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However...but ?

Posted: Tue May 06, 2003 8:13 pm
by sita
However vs but! :twisted:

Hi!

Could someone please explain the difference between the two, the only difference I can see is that one can't begin a sentence with but.
:roll:
Siân

Posted: Tue May 06, 2003 8:28 pm
by jly_eslcafe
Sita,

One of the difference is that "however" is more formal compared to "but". Thus when writing a formal document, I would be more inclined to use "however".

~ Jennifer

Posted: Tue May 06, 2003 10:18 pm
by joon
(1) He is intelligent; however, he is also ugly.

(2) He is intelligent, but he is also ugly.

Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 5:08 am
by Harzer
Der Unterschied ist derselbe wie der zwischen 'aber' und 'jedoch/dennoch/trotzdem' und wie sie alle heißen.

Posted: Wed May 07, 2003 5:13 am
by sita
Dear Harzer!

Where is the difference between aber and jedoch? :roll: :shock:

Best wishes
Siân

Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 1:46 pm
by Roger
"I tried hard but I did not succeed" (but = conjunction);
"I tried hard; however, I did not succeed" (adverb).

"However" also has the meaning of "whatever means or ways", "in whatever way".
Semantically, both are adversative (introducing a clause that seems to contradict the preceding element). Syntactically, "but" can only be used in dependent clauses.

Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 4:00 pm
by sita
Thank you very much for your help!

:D

Siân