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Nonetheless vs But - What's the difference?

nonetheless | but |

As adverbs the difference between nonetheless and but

is that nonetheless is nevertheless while but is merely, only.

As a preposition but is

outside of.

As a conjunction but is

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

As a noun but is

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

nonetheless

English

Adverb

(-)
  • (conjunctive) Nevertheless.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= William E. Conner
  • , title= An Acoustic Arms Race , volume=101, issue=3, page=206-7, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Nonetheless , some insect prey take advantage of clutter by hiding in it. Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close (less than half a meter) above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them.}}

    Synonyms

    * (nevertheless) still, though, yet

    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

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