1
general::
but
conjunction used when linking two words or phrases that seem opposite or very different in meaning. Don’t use but at the beginning of a sentence in written English:
• The plant’s leaves are big, but its flowers are quite small. • Her books are fascinating but often rather disturbing. • Many French dishes are basically simple, but they can take a long time to prepare. • Most of us value human life, but but some people think of animals as being equally important.
although
conjunction used when contrasting one clause with another in the same sentence:
• Although you are in the middle of the city, you feel as if you are in the countryside. • The windmill is still in good working order, although it has not been used since the 1950s. • I enjoyed German although I wasn’t very good at it. • Although lack of sleep causes some problems, it has a relatively small effect on performance at work.
however
conjunction used when saying something that seems different or surprising after your previous statement. It is usually used in the middle of a sentence, separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. It can also come at the beginning:
• Jack and his family managed to escape before the soldiers arrived. Other families in the village, however, were less lucky. • Their economy was incredibly successful in the 1980s. Since then, however, there has been a big rise in unemployment. • The town is a long way from the nearest big city. However, there is a good bus service. • He began his academic career as a mathematician. However, his main achievements were in the field of nuclear physics.
nevertheless/nonetheless
conjunction used when saying something that seems different or surprising after your previous statement. It is used at the beginning or end of a sentence:
• A series of studies 20 years ago suggested that there was a link between watching violent films and violent behaviour. Nevertheless, the results remain highly controversial. • It was certainly a terrible accident. Nevertheless, air travel is still the safest form of transport. • The weather turned bad early in the day, but the festival was a great success nonetheless. • It was very hard digging in the dry ground, but the work was satisfying nevertheless.
whereas
/while conjunction used when making comparisons and saying that something is true of one person, thing, or situation, but it is different for another. They are used when contrasting one clause with another in the same sentence:
• Taxes make up 62% of the price of a litre of petrol in France, whereas in Britain, the tax is 75%. • Some people visit their doctor once every few weeks, while others may not visit a doctor for several years. • Whereas in most of the world they drive on the right, in the UK and Japan they drive on the left.
by contrast
formal used when making comparisons and saying that a person, thing, or situation is very different from the one you have just mentioned. It is used when referring back to the previous sentence:
• The surface temperature on Venus is higher than the boiling point of water. Mars, by contrast, is very cold. • A report by the FBI shows that 26% of female murder victims in 1995 were killed by their husbands or boyfriends. By contrast, only 3% of male victims were killed by their wives or girlfriends.
Longman-Thesaurus
3
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with BUT, Also see ALL BUT; ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING; ANYTHING BUT; CAN'T HELP BUT; CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR; EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK; GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN; IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS; LAST BUT NOT LEAST; NO IFS OR BUTS; NOTHING BUT; SADDER BUT WISER; SEPARATE BUT EQUAL; SLOW BUT SURE; SPIRIT IS WILLING BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK; THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD.
American Heritage Idioms