however synonym in essay

Another Word for However | 100+ Synonyms for However in English

“However” is a transitional word used to introduce a contrasting statement or idea. In this article, we provide over 100 however synonyms for “however,” ranging from formal to informal to creative.

Using synonyms can add variety and clarity to your writing or speech, and it’s important to consider the context and tone of your message when selecting the most appropriate alternative .

However Synonyms

Commonly used synonyms for “however”, formal synonyms for “however”, informal synonyms for “however”, creative synonyms for “however”, rarely used synonyms for “however”, 100+ different words to use instead of “however”.

• However Synonyms ‘Infographic’

Using synonyms in writing is a great way to avoid repetition and make your writing more interesting. One word that is commonly used in writing is “however.” While it is an important word that helps to indicate contrast, using it repeatedly can make your writing feel stale.

This article will provide 100+ synonyms for “however” in English that you can use to make your writing more varied and interesting.

The following are some of the commonly used synonyms for “however”:

• He studied hard for the exam; however , he still failed.
• He promised to be on time; nevertheless , he arrived late.
• She is a great speaker; nonetheless , her presentation lacked enthusiasm.
• I know it’s risky; regardless , I think we should proceed.
• The weather is bad; despite this , we decided to go camping.

The following are some of the formal synonyms for “however”:

• Notwithstanding the challenges, the project was completed on time.
• The CEO was optimistic about the future; conversely , the shareholders were concerned.
• The new product was a success; in contrast , the old product was not well received.
• The team was well-prepared; by contrast , their opponents were not.
• In any event , we need to be prepared for any scenario.

The following are some of the informal synonyms for “however”:

• I know we’re behind schedule; anyways , we can still catch up.
• He’s not the most reliable employee; anyway , we need to give him a chance.
• The conditions were difficult; regardless , we completed the task.
• Be that as it may , we need to find a solution to this problem.
• The proposal has some flaws; even so, it’s worth considering.
• That being said , we need to be careful not to overspend.
• Still and all , we managed to finish the project on time.
• That said , we need to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.

The following are some of the creative synonyms for “however”:

• The job is well-paid; on the flip side , it requires a lot of overtime.
• He claimed to be an expert; on the contrary , he had no experience in the field.
• That said , we need to consider other options before making a decision.
• In any case , we need to address the issue as soon as possible.
• The project is challenging; then again , it’s also rewarding.
• Having said that , we need to be aware of the potential risks.
• Even though we have a tight deadline, we can still deliver high-quality work.
• Despite the fact that the market is competitive, we can still succeed.

The following are some of the rarely used synonyms for “however”:

• The weather was bad; nonetheless , we went ahead with the outdoor event.
• The product is expensive; howbeit , it’s worth the investment.
• Notwithstanding the challenges, we managed to complete the project on time.
• Albeit the results were disappointing, we learned a lot from the experience.

However Synonyms ‘ Infographic’

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9 Words To Use Instead Of “However” (With Examples)

“However” is undoubtedly a great word to use to counter a previous point you’ve made in writing. It can be somewhat overdone, which is why we think it’s time to look at some synonyms for it. This article will explore all the best alternatives for “however.”

Which Words Can I Use Instead Of “However”?

There are plenty of options to replace “however,” each one offering a different way for you to introduce a counterpoint or idea. This article will look at the following:

Nevertheless

• Despite that
• Be that as it may
• Having said that

The preferred version is “but” because it’s the most common one seen in English. Most people know what it means, and it’s easy to read on a page (since it only features three letters).

Another way to say however is by using “but,” and it’s perhaps the most popular choice to do so.

“But” works well when we want to introduce a counterargument while keeping the text light and easy to comprehend. It’s the quickest way to use “however” and doesn’t need to be used in more formal contexts.

Generally, “however” is a formal word. We mostly use it in articles or writing designed to capture the formal audience’s attention. “But” isn’t as strict with its usage, and you can find it equally in informal and formal writing styles.

You might see “but” in some of the following ways:

• I liked that idea, but I don’t think it’s wise to continue talking about it.
• They tried hard to find the gold, but it was to no avail.
• This mission was a resounding success, but there is still more to find out there.

Next, we come to “nevertheless,” which is a slightly less common phrase that works in formal situations.

“Nevertheless” and “nonetheless” are interchangeable and mean the same thing. You can use either to introduce a counterargument from the previous point.

Just like most of the words on this list, “nevertheless” is an independent clause that we use to include more information on the previous point, which means we need to include correct punctuation.

The correct punctuation choices include a semi-colon or a period before “nevertheless” and a comma after it.

• They worked hard for what they achieved; nevertheless, people looked down on them.
• You shouldn’t have said that to me; nevertheless, I will have to act on it accordingly.
• There are plenty of things wrong with this project; nevertheless, he will work on it.

“Still” is one of the best choices to replace “but,” and many native speakers use the two interchangeably throughout their writing to keep things unique and creative.

“Still” works well to introduce a counterpoint and comes with the same punctuation needs as “however.” It means the same as “but” but is used as an independent clause to introduce a new idea to an argument or qualify a previous one.

“Still” is one of the easiest words on this list to use, and it doesn’t always have to introduce a counter idea. Instead, it can reaffirm the previous statement, though it’s rare to see it used in this way.

• No one could beat them. Still, she thought her team stood a good chance.
• You should keep quiet while I work. Still, I don’t reckon you’ll be too fond about doing that.
• There is much to do today; still, I don’t see a way to get it all done.

“Yet” and “but” are synonymous. They use the same language rules, which helps many writers use them. “Yet” is definitely a better choice to replace “but” than “still” is, which a lot of people overlook.

“Yet” only needs a comma to work in a sentence, just like “but.” We can use it whenever we’re introducing a point that doesn’t agree with the previous one stated.

People often find “yet” easy to use because it’s quick to say and only consists of three letters (much like “but”).

• I don’t see you helping, yet I hear you complaining an awful lot.
• We must work together on this, yet you insist on ignoring our commands.
• The government works in mysterious ways, yet they always make their mistakes popular in the media.

“Though” is another common choice which we often see instead of “however.” Many people think it works in the same way as “although.” It’s simply a shorter version of “although” in the case of countering an argument.

“Though” is a great choice, like “yet” and “but,” which only requires a comma to work.

You will find “though” written quite a lot in English when introducing a counterpoint, and here are some examples of how it might look:

• I can see where you’re coming from, though I don’t much like your idea.
• There was a lot of money in the project, though they weren’t keen on telling us that.
• We found what we were looking for, though we weren’t best pleased with the result.

“Although” is identical to “though.” We use both words for the same reason, and it seems that “though” has evolved over time to replace “although.”

“Although” is a great synonym, though it’s clear that “though” is becoming the more popular choice of the two. Both follow the same language rules, making them easier to use than “however.”

“Although” is an old-fashioned word, and many native speakers think the “al-” prefix is redundant and unnecessary. For that reason, “though” is more common today.

• I’d like to take you to dinner, although I don’t think you’ll agree to that.
• There have been many reports of injuries in this area, although the police haven’t confirmed anything suspicious.
• The news is full of lies, although no one is sure how or why they get there.

Despite That

“Despite that” is the first alternative way of saying “however” that uses more than one word in this list. We like it because it works well in more formal situations.

“Despite that” is a formal phrase. We use it to talk about a counterargument from the previous point raised, and many essays are elevated in quality when using a phrase like “despite that.”

While many of the one-word options above are great for both formal and informal cases, “despite that” is mostly only for formalities. That makes it the ideal candidate for essay writing, research papers, and work emails.

• The findings have proved many things wrong about this study; despite that, I’m still willing to progress with my initial hypothesis.
• You could find faults wherever you look. Despite that, the world is still beautiful in its own way.
• I have found many discrepancies in the profit register. Despite that, I believe this work is dutiful and moral.

Be That As It May

“Be that as it may” is another phrase rather than a one-word choice. We use it in the same way as “despite that,” and it means that while the previous point means one thing, we’d like to raise another idea.

“Be that as it may” is another formal option that you’ll only find in those situations. It will rarely be used in a casual environment.

• We have yet to see results. Be that as it may, we will keep working towards them.
• You don’t know what you’re doing here. Be that as it may, you’ve got a right to see what we’re doing.
• Be that as it may, I don’t think you can talk to me in such a manner.

Having Said That

“Having said that” is synonymous with “be that as it may,” to mean that, while we’re saying one thing, we’re about to raise a point that highlights the opposite.

Again, “having said that” is a formal choice, though it’s not quite as formal as some of the others.

• You shouldn’t be here. Having said that, I think you can help me.
• There are many more places to explore in this world. Having said that, studies show it’s unlikely that we’ll ever explore them.
• The solar system is a vast expanse of nothing. Having said that, I’m excited to see where space travel might take us.

What Does “However” Mean?

“However” means despite the previous statement. We use it when we want to talk about a contradicting idea to the one we just raised, even if that seems counterintuitive to the goal of our writing.

The definition of “however,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary , is “despite whatever amount of degree.”

Can You Say “But However”?

“But however” is never grammatically correct. It’s known as reduplication, where we use two words that have the same meaning. Ultimately “but however” means “but but” or “however however.” Both of those statements are grammatically incorrect.

Which Is Better: But Or However”?

According to this graph , “but” is more popular than “however,” making it the more recognized and thus better choice than “however.”

Many people prefer using “but” because it’s much easier to find a place to write it in your writing. Also, because it comes with less strict punctuation rules, it’s easier for people still trying to learn the language to use it effectively.

You might also like: How To Use However In The Middle Of A Sentence (9 Examples)

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

• “Despite” or “Despite Of” – Correct Version Revealed
• Previous Work or Previous Works – Which Is Correct?
• 10 Best Words to Use Instead of “But” to Start a Sentence
• 10 Other Words for “However” in an Essay

22 of the Best Synonyms for ‘However’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

There are lots of strange ideas surrounding the word ‘however’. Some teachers tell their students they shouldn’t begin a new sentence with the word ‘but’, and should substitute the word ‘however’ instead.

However (as it were), this misses the fact that ‘but’ and ‘however’ are different classes of words, with ‘but’ being a conjunction and ‘however’ being an adverb.

Curiously, the Oxford English Dictionary ( OED ) names Shakespeare as the first citation of ‘however’ as a synonym for ‘but’ or ‘notwithstanding’: Shakespeare’s late history play Henry VIII , co-authored with John Fletcher, contains the lines: ‘All the Land knowes that: / How euer, yet there is no great breach.’ As the tautological ‘How euer, yet’ shows, ‘However’ is being used to mean ‘yet’ or ‘nevertheless’ here.

In any case, there’s nothing wrong with using ‘but’ at the start of a sentence – and much can go wrong if you misuse ‘however’, treating it as a simple synonym for ‘but’. Let’s take a closer look at some of the alternatives to the word ‘however’ and how they can be used in speech and writing.

Synonyms for ‘however’

Let’s start with BUT . This short, simple word is a conjunction, because it is used to join clauses together, much like ‘and’. Consider these two statements, involving going to look for the cat:

A: I looked in the garden and the cat was there.

B: I looked in the garden but the cat wasn’t there.

In both cases, the ( italicised ) conjunction) joins the two clauses together, but in B, of course, the cat isn’t there so the conjunction but is used. But we could also have used however here:

I looked in the garden; however , the cat wasn’t there.

However is an adverb rather than a conjunction, hence the comma that follows it. Adverbs are often words ending in -ly , such as happily or sadly or quickly , and one can imagine a slightly different sentence that might read:

I looked in the garden; happily , the cat was there.

So but is a simpler and more direct way of saying virtually the same thing as however in such examples.

Another short word, YET , serves a similar function, and can therefore serve as a synonym for however , as in ‘I looked in the garden, yet the cat wasn’t there’.

The word STILL works slightly differently from but and yet and is, in some ways, closer to however than either of those. Indeed, in syntax it is often literally closer to however , since the two are used together, as in this example from the historian Thomas Babington Macaulay in 1825: ‘Still, however, there was another extreme which, though far less dangerous, was also to be avoided.’

In such an example, ‘still’ means something similar to NONETHELESS (or NEVERTHELESS : they are both synonyms for each other): that is, DESPITE THAT , THAT BEING SAID , ALL THE SAME , or JUST THE SAME .

For instance, ‘I know it’s useless buying a lottery ticket; still , someone’s got to win, haven’t they?’ A synonym for still in this sense (and for nonetheless/nevertheless ) is NOTWITHSTANDING .

AFTER ALL also performs this function, as in Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene (1590): ‘Yet after all, he victour did suruiue’ means essentially, ‘however, he survived as victor’.

Indeed, a suite of words which also convey this idea of just the same or notwithstanding are REGARDLESS , ANYHOW , ANYWAY , and EVEN SO . Remember to steer clear of ‘irregardless’, a word frowned upon because it makes no sense (the ir- prefix presumably negates the word regardless , so its meaning would be the opposite of ‘regardless’).

THOUGH and ALTHOUGH are two more words which can be used more or less interchangeably with however . For instance, ‘He’s a good singer; however, he’s no Frank Sinatra’ could be rewritten quite easily to read, ‘He’s a good singer, (al)though he’s no Frank Sinatra’.

Using though (or although ) arguably softens the blow of the criticism of the person’s singing in the second half of the sentence, in a way that however does not: however acts as performative throat-clearing before delivering the stinging indictment of the singer’s abilities, whereas though and although keep the emphasis slightly focused towards the start of the sentence, and the good news (‘He’s a good singer …’).

A slightly more archaic synonym for however is HOWBEIT . Whereas albeit has lasted, howbeit , which means roughly BE THAT AS IT MAY , has become largely obsolete and so is best avoided as an archaism or old-fashioned word. Of course, if you’re writing historical fiction, it may be just the term you’re looking for!

Antonyms for ‘however’

If however sees the clause which follows it swerving away from the clause which precedes it (as in the example ‘I looked in the garden; however , the cat wasn’t there’), then good antonyms for however see the two clauses agreeing with each other: the latter one follows naturally and smoothly from the former.

With this in mind, we might identify THEREFORE , THUS , and SO as antonyms for however .

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Thesaurus for However

Related terms for however - synonyms, antonyms and sentences with however, similar meaning.

• nevertheless
• nonetheless
• despite that
• be that as it may
• notwithstanding
• having said that
• in any case
• all the same
• at any rate
• in any event
• at the same time
• for all that
• in spite of that
• none the less

Opposite meaning

• accordingly
• correspondingly
• appropriately
• as a consequence
• consistently
• as a result
• consequently
• because of this
• in consequence
• for this reason
• due to the fact
• for that reason
• in that case
• due to this
• in so doing
• in that event

Common usage

• complication
• contingency
• decrepitude
• distemperature

Sentence Examples

Proper usage in context.

• A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise Pooh's Little Instruction Book
• However motherhood comes to you, it's a miracle Valerie Harper
• However you make your living is where your talent lies Ernest Hemingway
• No labor, however humble, is dishonoring Talmud
• Boldness is a mask for fear, however great John Dryden

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Synonyms and antonyms of however in English

Nevertheless.

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Lofty ideas, etc. are of a high moral standard.

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However – Synonyms

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The adverb “however” is used to imply a slight opposition, and to display further considerations of a statement.

More synonyms will be introduced in the following article.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 “However” – General synonyms
• 2 “However” – Synonyms used in academic writing

“However” – General synonyms

The following illustrates synonyms of the word “however” that are used in general as well as in academic writing.

• Nonetheless
• Notwithstanding
• All the same
• Be that as it may
• For all that
• In spite of
• On the other hand
• Without regard to
• In spite of that
• Nevertheless
• Even though
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“However” – Synonyms used in academic writing

In an academic context, the word “however” is used to express a slight opposition and to consider another possibility or obstacle of a statement.

Are you looking for suiting synonyms for “however” for your academic paper? Have a look at the table below with the top suggestions from our BachelorPrint-Team .

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How can I avoid overuse of words like "however" and "therefore" in academic writing?

I am in the field of computer science (more specifically robotics), and as I am writing, I must actively avoid using the words "however", "therefore", etc... every few sentences. This is especially an issue in proofs, as I feel like every other sentence follows from the previous.

For example, I am tempted to write something like the following:

This constraint is satisfied because... However, if blah blah..., then blah blah. Therefore, something something. However,.... (and I can go on forever).

Often, I can just delete some of the "however" or replace "therefore" with words like "consequently". I can also sometimes change the wording to use "then", "so", or "but". However (see I can't even help myself), I feel compelled to use words like "however" to help with flow.

How can I avoid using words like "however" so many times? Is this bad writing? Is this normal?

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• 1 FWIW, I struggled with this in my master's thesis. Especially with 'nested' howevers (in parentheses). I found the trick of letting it rest a day or two then proofing it afresh helped, but sometimes I was just pushing the issue to the next sentence. Some topics just are complex 🤷🏻‍♂️. –  Lamar Latrell Commented Dec 3, 2020 at 23:13
• Not sure whether this is too obvious, but in terms of style and writing proofs, I sometimes look into papers of others (more experienced) authors. So, you can look how they avoid (or use) these words and try to get inspired. –  StefanH Commented May 29 at 13:24

11 Answers 11

Let me suggest an alternate view. This is in regard to writing proofs and other very technical things. You want, above all, for your intent to be clear. It may be that "however" and "therefore" are the best available words and that they clearly express the flow of the argument.

After all, if you were writing the proof purely symbolically you would "overuse" certain logic symbols in order to be exact.

And, don't let "fancy words" get in the way of your readers deep dive into the ideas themselves. Sometimes the most obvious word is the one that is most quickly understood to express your intent. This might be especially important for those who know your subject, but are not native speakers of your language.

OTOH, I haven't actually seen your prose. If an editor or reviewer objects, then you can change it to suit, of course.

• 29 Are the first words of each of your paragraphs meant to be examples? –  GoodDeeds Commented Dec 1, 2020 at 22:08
• 22 @Buffy However, we could assume they were. Therefore, your answer is a good example. –  Pierre Arlaud Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 10:47
• 6 @PierreArlaud "We could assume they were, and your answer is a good example" works just as well. Use these linking words if you need them, but they can often be removed entirely. –  Jack Aidley Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 11:07
• 9 Agreed. When reading articles, I am often confused by the author using different words for the same things. I get like "Wait, did I miss something, isn't he talking about the same as before?". If you feel the need to use the same word a hundred times in a row, please do exactly that and not switch around for fancyness. –  MaxD Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 13:32
• 10 Great answer (+1), however using "OTOH" is a perfect example of a fancy expression that might confuse the reader. I am not a native speaker and don't know what it means. –  Vincent Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 17:28

It sounds to me like you're actually doing everything that you need to do already.

In fact, when you are initially writing a paper, I would suggest that you not worry about it at all . Write things as they come out most quickly and naturally, focusing only on conveying the substance of your argumentation.

Only at the very end, when you are polishing before submission, is it worth worrying about the wording. At that point, you can read the paper out loud to yourself and see if you start feeling repetitions or stumbling over sentence structure. Reading out loud is valuable because it slows you down and forces you to really hear what you have written. If your words feel uncomfortable when you read them out loud, then fix them just like you are doing already: deleting when you can, and substituting synonyms when you can't.

• 1 +1 for reading out loud! It's an incredibly effective trick for easily spotting things that can be surprisingly tricky to spot when just reading. –  Carl-Fredrik Nyberg Brodda Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 15:26
• (The exclamation mark is made to be read out loud, too) –  Carl-Fredrik Nyberg Brodda Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 15:26
• 13 ARGH! Don't substitute synonyms just to avoid repetition. If I had a nickel for every time I had to puzzle over whether an "iteration" was the same as a "step" because the author felt they were overusing one of the words, I'd never have to work again. –  Nobody Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 16:38
• 4 @Nobody Terms of art should not of course be varied, but connector prose like "however" and "therefore" most certainly can be. –  jakebeal Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 17:48
• 1 @Michael My observation is that it's very easy for people, especially inexperienced writers, to get stuck on wording and fail to produce the core content. –  jakebeal Commented Dec 3, 2020 at 15:07

Aggressive Pruning

I agree with other answers that your repetition of however and therefore might not be a problem in this context. However, I would like to point out another option. These words are usually included as signposts for the reader, but do not change the meaning of the text. Therefore, I suggest omitting them. For example,

I agree with other answers that your repetition of however and therefore might not be a problem in this context. I would like to point out another option. These words are usually included as signposts for the reader, but do not change the meaning of the text. I suggest omitting them.

Just try removing the offending words in each sentence where you feel it might be getting repetitive. In most cases, you'll find you can remove "therefore" or "however" without impacting the argument. If the transition of ideas is jarring, leave the words in.

You mention that you remove instances like this already, but you may not be aggressive enough. In your question, you state

To me, the "however" in the last sentence is optional. You add it to emphasize contradiction with the previous statement. You could replace with

Unfortunately , I still feel compelled to use words like "however" to help with flow.

I would suggest an exercise where you remove all "however"s and "therefore"s and then wait an hour or so . After the wait, re-read your text and re-add the words where necessary. The time gap will give you time to forget where the words originally appeared and allow you to read with a fresh perspective. This should help with more aggressive pruning.

As regards to synonyms, sometimes rephrasing the sentence works better than rarely used synonyms like "ergo". For example,

I agree with other answers that your repetition of however and therefore might not be a problem in this context. I would like to point out another alternative . These words are usually included as signposts for the reader, but do not change the meaning of the text. When this is the case , I suggest omitting them.

Rephrasing can also emphasize contradiction and support in the same way that "however" and "therefore" do. For rephrasing, the same exercise as above can help, but I also find proof-readers invaluable. They often find ways of stating the same thing more succinctly and elegantly because they have a fresh approach to the text.

• I'd heartily agree with the idea of trying out dropping these "connectors" entirely. The prose itself has a direction. Unless you start a new paragraph, most readers would (reasonably) assume that the next sentence follows in some way from the previous... –  paul garrett Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 16:28
• The example in the first paragraph is really cool (+1), but note that both of your examples from OP's question are actually about replacing rather than pruning. Sometimes there is no way of pruning without compromising on clarity. –  lighthouse keeper Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 16:31

I must actively avoid using the words "however", "therefore", etc... every few sentences

Says who? There is nothing wrong in repeating the same linking word every few sentences , in my view. Don't let the language majors guilt-trip you into thinking otherwise. That rule is way overrated.

If you are writing about matrices, you wouldn't look for synonyms to avoid repeating the word "matrix", would you? Just use the clearest and most appropriate words, and raise your threshold for how much repetition is 'unacceptable'. Unless every third word in your text is "however", I wouldn't worry.

• 1 To be fair, using the same (non-technical) word in every other sentence (barring obvious exceptions like "and", "so", "or"...) can make a paper unpleasant to read. Knowing a few synonyms (or using a thesaurus during later editing passes) is not a bad idea. –  tomasz Commented Dec 3, 2020 at 19:17

Consider the argument structure in the paper.

I find that I have the however/therefore problem when I'm writing in flow-of-consciousness narrative voice, rather than making an effort to structure my arguments.

So I write something like:

Premise P1 Therefore, Conclusion C1 However, Counterargument to C1 Premise P2 Therefore, Conclusion C2a Therefore, Conclusion C2b However, Counterargument to C2a Therefore, Counterargument to C2b

Given this experience, here are some structural things I try to consider.

1) Give back-references.

Would "Therefore"/"However" be better replaced with a simplifying restatement of the point that the arguments are building upon or tearing down?

Premise P1 Given P1, Conclusion C1 Despite P1, Counterargument to C1 Premise P2 Given P2, Conclusion C2a Given C2a, Conclusion C2b Despite P2, Counterargument to C2a Given C/C2a, Counterargument to C2b

2) Consider the flow of points.

Looking at the sequence of premises and arguments you have in the paper, is it the clearest way to communicate your point? Would it be better split into separate sections? Perhaps "premises/assumptions", "conclusions/inferences/extrapolations", and "counterarguments" sections?

Premises Premise P1 Premise P2 Inferences Given P1, Conclusion C1 Given P2, Conclusion C2a Given C2a, Conclusion C2b Counterarguments Despite P1, Counterargument to C1 Despite P2, Counterargument to C2a Given C/C2a, Counterargument to C2b

3) Maintain a consistent direction or thrust.

Heavy use of "however" may indicate that you're regularly flipflopping between each side of an argument, rather than presenting one side in full, then presenting the other in full.

4) Reserve them for building up or tearing down a point.

If you're using "therefore" in a way that doesn't build upon prior information to form a further conclusion, or "however" in a way that doesn't present a counterpoint, then examine why you're using it.

Compare this, which neither builds on, not provides a counterpoint, but appears to do both:

We gathered the data. However, this was not easy, as we were in the field. Therefore, we only took a few readings.

to this, which avoids that appearance:

We gathered only limited data, due to fieldwork limitations.

5) Don't thesaurize.

Contrary to other advice, I wouldn't advise trying to conceal this issue by changing the words to synonymous terms.

You can't build a good wood-framed house without knowing exactly what the solid foundational posts are, the exact position of all the beams from foundations to lintel, and exactly how the joints tie each one to another.

You can't write a good paper without knowing exactly what the solid foundational premises are, the exact position of all your conclusions from premises to final, and exactly how the arguments tie each one to another.

That means knowing when you really mean to use "therefore", rather than spackling over all your joints to hide them behind weak weasel-word phrases like "and", "so", "then", "but", "yet", "though".

Like a good joiner makes the joints a visible feature of their work, make those words a feature of your writing, calling out its structure.

6) OK, maybe sometimes thesaurize, but deliberately.

This is an edge case, but perhaps worth mentioning.

Sometimes, we use different bullets at different levels, to avoid confusion:

In a similar way, it can be useful to thesaurize in order to separate subarguments from the main argument flow. Be careful, it can end up a mess, but it's worth trying:

Premise P1 Therefore , from P1, Conclusion C1 Note as an aside that tangential premise Pt1 And so tangential conclusion Ct1 But tangential counterpoint to Ct1 Therefore , from C1, Conclusion C2 However , Counterargument to C2

It's almost always better to slice the tangent off into another section, an infobox, or even leave it out completely, though.

Both are perfectly normal in academic writing. You can mix things up by using:

• nevertheless
• nonetheless
• X notwithstanding
• This is not always/seldom/never the case for...
• ..., yet, ...
• Accordingly
• For this/that reason

• 1 Also see phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk for more options to express this and other common ideas in academic writing. –  user3780968 Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 2:20
• 7 To be honest if I saw 'Ergo' in a text I would think the author is trying way too hard to sound fancy. –  AccidentalTaylorExpansion Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 13:39
• 4 @AccidentalTaylorExpansion Cogito for this/that reason sum. –  Carl-Fredrik Nyberg Brodda Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 15:27
• @AccidentalTaylorExpansion: Or had watched The Matrix Reloaded too often. –  J W Commented Dec 4, 2020 at 10:24

Very often, you use a "however" because you're describing some developing process of thought. Thoughts change or turn to something else, and this reflects on earlier assertions. But a written document is not a speech - your text does not have to be chronological relative to your thought processes (certainly not relative to your original thought processes). You can also use structure and visual appearance in your writing, which an oral presentation can't have.

Let's take your example:

This constraint is satisfied because... However, if blah blah..., then blah blah.

You could make it:

Let us now consider the whatever constraint: blah1 : The constraint is satisfied because ... blah2 : blah blah

This is usually a good idea. But, as other answers point out, sometimes the "however" makes perfect sense and the narrative sounds reasonable/engaging/exciting with it in place.

• I like this a lot. The "looping" linear line of thought needs not be reproduced in the text which can be better structured (although I don't quite understand your example here). –  Peter - Reinstate Monica Commented Dec 3, 2020 at 6:45

EDIT: My answer here does not directly address your problem, but I see it is useful to look for synonyms sometimes, at least we avoid to use same words repeatedly.

I would suggest to consider this website to find synonyms ( www.thesaurus.com ). For example, I have looked for synonyms of "therefore".

As you can see in the results, there are a number of synonyms, sorted by relevance. You can check the meaning of each word by clicking on it. You can also see examples showing how the words are used in sentences.

• 2 Using a thesaurus for academic writing is a very bad idea. If the author is not sufficiently familiar with alternative word choices to pick them on their own, it is likely that the reader is not overly familiar with them either. Academic English is supposed to be very simple. –  Arno Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 10:27
• I mean the writer should not choose like a machine. Other dictionaries (e.g., OALD) are essential to check the meaning of the word before using in a particular context. –  TrungDung Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 10:36
• 2 @Arno: It often happens to me that I have to look up "simple words" and then remember, hey, there is this simple world I am familiar with. Definitely words I would understand when I reas them. –  user111388 Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 11:12
• 7 @Arno "Using a thesaurus for academic writing is a very bad idea" I don't think so. –  KratosMath Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 13:29
• 3 Blindly using a thesaurus for academic writing is a very bad idea, but it's not because academic writing should be simple. It's because synonyms have similar meanings, but not exactly the same meaning, and academic writing should be precise. You shouldn't use a synonym to avoid repetition; you should use a synonym iff it more precisely matches the meaning you want. –  Ray Commented Dec 2, 2020 at 16:14

This is an answer that could be applied to almost any question about writing style, and may get dinged for that, but I'm going to add it anyway: Look for examples to follow. When you read papers, take note of ones that are a pleasure to read, and then read them again to see how they do it. People have given some good answers with examples, and I think they are helpful, but they are made-up examples. It's really valuable to see how actual problems of exposition have been solved in ways that are clear and satisfying to you. Maybe they turn out to use "however" rather frequently, and maybe they don't. You will learn from what you see.

• In writing as with all performances: That which looks easiest is in fact the most accomplished. –  Peter - Reinstate Monica Commented Dec 3, 2020 at 6:47

In other answers, people have suggested using synonyms, rephrasing, or omitting the conjunctions. I would like to add some extra insight on this.

I believe that “ however ” and “ therefore ” should be treated differently.

“ However ” serves the important purpose of preparing the reader for a contradiction or a problem that will arise following the conjunction. Therefore, it is hard to omit. The solution for avoiding the overuse of “ however ” is to use synonyms or to rephrase the sentence.

As for “ therefore ”, it shows that the next phrase or sentence follows from the previous one, and it can often be omitted. Of course, the other options are also possible.

I will illustrate with a random example I came up with:

The constraint is satisfied because the Σ -value is 1.5 . However , we need to be careful since the standard deviation was quite high. Therefore , the experiment needs to be repeated for improved reliability. I recommend repeating the experiment while changing the value of Ψ to 3 so that the results will be compatible. However , setting Ψ to 3 might affect the consistency of the results due to Ω being 5 . Therefore , I also recommend changing Ω to 4 . This solves the consistency problem, however , precautions should be taken since this value for Ω is quite low.

Now, I will rewrite this text without using “ however ” and “ therefore ” at all. You don’t need to go this far in reality.

The constraint is satisfied because the Σ -value is 1.5 . Although this is within the acceptable range, we need to be careful since the standard deviation was quite high. For this reason, the experiment needs to be repeated for improved reliability. I recommend repeating the experiment while changing the value of Ψ to 3 so that the results will be compatible. This introduces a new problem, where setting Ψ to 3 might affect the consistency of the results due to Ω being 5 . Since this may undermine the experiment, I also recommend changing Ω to 4 . This solves the consistency problem, but precautions should be taken since this value for Ω is quite low.

An option is to use grammar checking tools. Most LaTeX editors do not include this, but you could, for example, copy & paste a paragraph into a word processor and see what synonyms it suggests. I also have good experience with Grammarly, but it isn't cheap and may not be worth it. But it both tries to tell you when your text is repetitive, and you can click words to see synonyms. Just really make sure that you do not blindly accept and suggestions, as it sometimes wants to replace technical terms with something that's no synonym in that context. On the other hand, it works well with LaTeX, which is a big plus. In the end, I think some online thesaurus and word processor features are suitable for native speakers. Non-native speakers may consider using a more costly tool, especially when your reviewers notice that you're not a native speaker.

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• Writing Tips

How to Use the Word “However”

• 3-minute read
• 30th January 2016

The adverb “however” is one that causes some confusion , so it’s important to use it correctly in your academic writing .

But how is this term used? And how do you make its meaning clear in your written work? It’s all a matter of punctuation…

However (Whatever)

This sense of “however” typically means “to whatever extent” or “in whatever manner”:

I’ll catch you one day, however far you run!

It’s not a formal event, so dress however you want.

Note that in the examples above, there’s no punctuation between “however” and the thing it’s modifying (i.e., distance/mode of dress).

Another (less common) use of this term is as a synonym for “how.” More specifically, it means “how under the circumstances,” so is typically used when referring to something challenging:

However do proofreaders remember all those grammatical rules?

As above, you’ll notice there is no punctuation between “however” and the rest of the sentence.

However (Nevertheless)

When this term is used as a conjunctive adverb to connect two contrasting points, it should be followed by a comma:

I had planned to go out today. It was rainy, however , so I stayed inside.

The initial results were positive. Further testing, however , is still required.

Find this useful?

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Here, it is being used to contrast the latter sentence with the former. As such, we can reformulate these sentences to use “but” instead:

I had planned to go out today, but it was rainy, so I stayed inside.

The initial results were positive, but further testing is still required.

Can I Start a Sentence with However?

Since “however” can substitute for “but,” some claim it shouldn’t be used at the beginning of a sentence. Nevertheless, even if the idea that you shouldn’t use a conjunction like this were true, it wouldn’t apply in this case.

Unlike the coordinating conjunction “but,” “however” is not used to link two independent clauses in a single sentence. As such, if you want to use it to contrast two points, you need to make sure they are both complete sentences.

Beginning a sentence with “however” can even emphasize a contrast, since it flows more smoothly, foregrounds the comparison and ensures clarity:

The initial results were positive. However , further testing is still required.

But if you don’t want to use this term at the beginning of a new sentence, you can also connect two sentences with a semicolon:

The initial results were positive; however , further testing is still required.

However you choose to use “however,” however, make sure you punctuate correctly so that your reader will understand what you mean.

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HOWEVER Synonym: 23 Useful Words to Use Instead of HOWEVER

Posted on Last updated: October 24, 2023

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HOWEVER Synonym! Learning synonyms in English is one of the best ways to bolster your vocabulary. In this lesson, you will learn a list of synonyms for HOWEVER with picture and example sentences.

Table of Contents

HOWEVER Synonym List

• Nonetheless
• Notwithstanding
• All the same
• Be that as it may
• For all that
• In spite of
• On the other hand
• Without regard to
• At any rate
• In any case
• Just the same
• Nevertheless

HOWEVER Synonyms with Examples

Learn synonyms or other words for HOWEVER with example sentences.

Though he’s a fool, I like him  nonetheless .

He still went home,  notwithstanding  the midnight.

Withal , I always hold an optimistic attitude.

He still yearned after her, even  after all  these years.

I don’t need the literature at present. Thank you very much  all the same .

Anyhow , I must insist that you cannot steal.

I know you don’t like him but  be that as it may , you can at least be polite to him.

The law cannot make all men equal,  but  they are all equal before the law.

She looked lovely,  despite  her strange apparel.

For all that  he was an attractive little creature with a sweetly expressive face.

In spite of  their quarrel, they remain the best of friends.

I want to go to the party, but  on the other hand , I ought to be studying.

The female is generally drab, the male  per contra  brilliant.

Though  you cast out nature with a fork, it will still return.

The 2008 bonus plan was also designed to kick in  without regard to  paper losses.

I shall go and see the patient  anyway .

Well, I’m not going home on foot,  at any rate .

In any case , he is a friend of mine.

Don’t worry about looking handsome, or being strong and brave. Just as you love me unconditionally,I love you  just the same .

Fanned fires and forced love never did well  yet .

Synonym for However | Image

Learn HOWEVER Synonyms (Other Words for HOWEVER)

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Does anyone have a synonym for “however” be it a word or a full phrase

I’m writing an essay on Romeo and Juliet which is going fairly well so far but I keep using the word “however”, is there anything I can use instead of it?

Also ik I can just google it but I’m bored and this is an excuse for me to go on reddit

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