But vs Again - What's the difference?

but | again |

As a noun but

is any piece of equipment used for writing with one's hand, except chalks.

As an adverb again is

(label) back in the reverse direction, or to an original starting point.

As a preposition again is

(obsolete or dialectal) against.

but

English

Preposition

(English prepositions)

(obsolete, outside, Scotland) Outside of.

Away but the hoose and tell me whae's there.

Without, apart from, except.

Everyone but Father left early.

''I like everything but that.

Adverb

(-)

Merely, only.

* 1791 , (Robert Burns), "(Ae Fond Kiss)":

For to see her was to love her,
Love but her, and love for ever.

* 1900 , , (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) :

Now the Wicked Witch of the West had but one eye, yet that was as powerful as a telescope, and could see everywhere.

* 1977 , (Alistair Horne), A Savage War of Peace , New York Review Books, 2006, p.49:

The stony outcrops are often covered but thinly with arable soil; winters are bitingly cold, and rainfall scanty and unpredictable.

(Australian, conjunctive) Though, however.

I'll have to go home early but .

Conjunction

(wikipedia but) (English Conjunctions)

Except (for), excluding. Preceded by a negation.

*{{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 23, author=Becky Ashton, work=BBC Sport

, title= QPR 1-0 Chelsea , passage=Luiz struggled with the movement of Helguson in the box, as he collected a long ball and the Spaniard barged him over, leaving referee Chris Foy little option but to point to the spot.}}

On the contrary, but rather (introducing a word or clause that contrasts with or contradicts the preceding clause or sentence without the not ).

However, although, nevertheless (implies that the following clause is contrary to prior belief or contrasts with or contradicts the preceding clause or sentence).

*{{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-19, author= Ian Sample

, volume=189, issue=6, page=34, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Irregular bedtimes may affect children's brains , passage=Irregular bedtimes may disrupt healthy brain development in young children, according to a study of intelligence and sleeping habits. ¶ Going to bed at a different time each night affected girls more than boys, but both fared worse on mental tasks than children who had a set bedtime, researchers found.}}

*{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-29, volume=407, issue=8842, page=55, magazine=(The Economist)

, title= Travels and travails , passage=Even without hovering drones, a lurking assassin, a thumping score and a denouement, the real-life story of Edward Snowden, a rogue spy on the run, could be straight out of the cinema. But , as with Hollywood, the subplots and exotic locations may distract from the real message: America’s discomfort and its foes’ glee.}}

Except that (introducing a subordinate clause which qualifies a negative statement); also, with omission of the subject of the subordinate clause, acting as a negative relative, "except one that", "except such that".

*, II.15:

*:There is no reason but hath another contrary unto it, saith the wisest party of Philosophers.

*Shakespeare

*:And but my noble Moor is true of mindit were enough to put him to ill thinking.

*1820 , (John Keats), ‘Lamia’, Lamia & Other Poems :

*:A deadly silence step by step increased, / Until it seem'd a horrid presence there, / And not a man but felt the terror in his hair.

Without it also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant).

(obsolete) Except with; unless with; without.

*Fuller

*:So insolent that he could not go but either spurning equals or trampling on his inferiors.

*Motto of the Mackintoshes

*:Touch not the cat but a glove.

(obsolete) Only; solely; merely.

*Milton

*:Observe but how their own principles combat one another.

*Bible, 2 Kings vii. 4

*:If they kill us, we shall but die.

*Dryden

*:a formidable man but to his friends

Usage notes

* Beginning a sentence with a coordinating conjunction such as but' is considered incorrect by classical grammarians arguing that a coordinating conjunction at the start of a sentence has nothing to connect, but use of the word in this way is very common. It is, however, best to avoid beginning a sentence with '''but''' in formal writing. Combining sentences or using '''however''', '''nevertheless''', '''still''', or ' though is appropriate for the formal style. ** But this tool has its uses. ** This tool has its uses, however. ** Nevertheless, this tool has its uses. ** Still, this tool has its uses. ** This tool still has its uses. ** This tool has its uses, though. * The use of the word but preceded by a comma is also considered incorrect by classical grammarians. ** I was very tired, but I decided to continue. ** It was a lovely day, but rain looked likely.

Synonyms

* (except) bar, unless, excepting, excluding, with the exception of, without * (however) yet, although, ac

Noun

(en noun)

An instance or example of using the word "but".

It has to be done – no ifs or buts .

(Scotland) The outer room of a small two-room cottage.

A limit; a boundary.

The end; especially the larger or thicker end, or the blunt, in distinction from the sharp, end; the butt.

Derived terms

* all but * but and ben * but good *

Statistics

Anagrams

* * 100 English basic words English coordinating conjunctions English focus adverbs 1000 English basic words ----

again

English

(wikipedia again)

Alternative forms

* againe, agayne, ageyne (obsolete); agin (colloquial or humorous)

Adverb

(-)

(label) Back in the reverse direction, or to an original starting point.

* 1526 , The Bible , tr. (William Tyndale), (w) 2:

And after they were warned in ther slepe, that they shulde not go ageyne to Herod, they retourned into ther awne countre another way.

Back (to a former place or state).

* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), chapter=19

, title= The China Governess , passage=Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.}}

(label) In return, as a reciprocal action; back.

* :

but Merlyn warned the kynge couertly that gweneuer was not holsome for hym to take to wyf / for he warned hym that launcelot shold loue her and she hym ageyne

* , II.31:

So women are never angrie, but to the end a man should againe be angrie with them, therein imitating the lawes of Love.

* , I.2.4.vii:

Thus men are plagued with women, they again with men, when they are of diverse humours and conditions.

* 1852–3 , (Charles Dickens), (Bleak House)

As he lies in the light before a glaring white target, the black upon him shines again .

Another time; once more.

, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=8 , passage=The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward she became her old self again';
* , chapter=1
, title= Mr. Pratt's Patients, chapter=1 , passage=Thinks I to myself, “Sol, you're run off your course again. This is a rich man's summer ‘cottage’
* 1931 , Robert L. May, Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer , Montgomery Ward (publisher), draft:

He tangled in tree-tops again' and ' again / And barely missed hitting a tri-motored plane.

* 1979 , Charles Edward Daniels et al., “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” (song), Million Mile Reflections , Charlie Daniels Band, Epic Records:

Johnny said, “Devil, just come on back if you ever want to try again / I done told you once, you son of a bitch, I’m the best that’s ever been.”

* 2010 , Simon Hattenstone, The Guardian , 30 October:

The last sentence is so shocking, I have to read it again .

Over and above a factor of one.

* 1908 December 10, , “New Genera and Species of Crinoids”, Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington , Volume XXI, pp.229–230:

Cirri l-lxxx, 15, about 12mm. long; first two joints short, about twice as broad as long; third about one-third again' [=one and one-third times] as long as broad; fourth and fifth the longest, about half ' again [=one and a half times] as long as broad;.

# Tell me again, say again;

# I ask again, I say again;

# Here too, here also, in this case as well;

#*

A great bargain also had been the excellent Axminster carpet which covered the floor; as, again , the arm-chair in which Bunting now sat forward, staring into the dull, small fire.

(label) In any other place.

(Francis Bacon)

(label) On the other hand.

* (rfdate) (William Shakespeare) (1564–1616)

The one is my sovereignthe other again is my kinsman.

Moreover; besides; further.

* (rfdate) Hersche

Again , it is of great consequence to avoid, etc.

Derived terms

* again and again * again-coming * once again

Preposition

(English prepositions)
(obsolete or dialectal) Against.

* 1485 , Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur , Book X:

And here begynneth the treson of Kynge Marke that he ordayned agayne Sir Trystram.

* 1924 , J H Wilkinson, Leeds Dialect Glossary and Lore , page 60

Ah'd like to wahrn (warn) thi agaan 'evvin owt to dew wi' that chap.

* 2003 , Glasgow Sunday Herald, page 16, column 2:

You may think you are all on the same side, agin the government.

Statistics

Usage notes

The pronunciation /???e?n/ is chiefly poetic. 200 English basic words English sequence adverbs 1000 English basic words ----