Words and Phrases to Use instead of HOWEVER

Words and Phrases to Use instead of HOWEVER

Hi English learners! Are you writing an essay or an email? Are you fed up with the same old words and phrases? In this lesson, we will look at 10 words and phrases to use instead of “however” with lots of example sentences so you can learn how to use them in context.

Here is the list:

• Nevertheless
• Even so
• Still
• Yet
• Although
• Otherwise
• Despite/in spite of
• After all
• Be it as it may
• Having said that

“However” can be used as an adverb showing a relation between the two sentences.

• Sara has always been a good student. Last month, however, she got some bad grades.

It can also be used as an adverb before an adjective or another adverb:

• Robert couldn’t win the game however hard he tried.

We normally use “however” as conjunction joining two clauses.

• You can make this cake however you want – with or without eggs.

Let’s look at some alternatives to “however”:

Words and Phrases to Use instead of HOWEVER

Nevertheless

Just like “however”, we use “nevertheless” to show contrast. It has a similar meaning to “despite that”.

• Tom was tired and sleepy; nevertheless, he kept on walking.
• Though enormously rich, he was nevertheless a thrifty, penny-pinching person.
• Mary never wanted to be a housewife but she nevertheless got married and ended up as one.

Even so

We use the phrase “even so” for emphasis. For example. when you want to say that something is surprising news in spite of what you have said previously.

• Sandra ate too much already but even so, she helped herself with a cake.
• The temperature rose later in the day but even so, we were still feeling cold.
• Brian’s room was very untidy; even so, he didn’t mind sitting and reading at his desk.

Still

We use “still” to emphasize that something exists despite something said or done in the sentence.

• Robert still enjoyed his day off despite the bad weather.
• Albert was looking for his telephone all around the place but still couldn’t find it.
• Although his leg hurt he was still able to drive.

Words and Phrases to Use instead of HOWEVER

Yet

“Yet” is a conjunction we normally use to make a contrast between two clauses or sentences.

• There was no particular reason for Fiona to be in a bad mood, yet she felt pretty sad.
• It was cold yet sunny.
• The joke he told us seemed a bit strange yet very funny.

Although

This is another conjunction we use to express contrast. It is used to say that something is happening differently from what is usual or sensible.

• Although he’s been working there for a long time, he wanted to change jobs.
• Roberta was sitting on the balcony and smoking although the doctor told her not to.
• Although he spent a few months in prison for robbery, he decided to be an honest man.

Otherwise

An adverb “otherwise” means different, in another way than supposed.

• Sylvia thought that the book was a bit long but otherwise she enjoyed reading it.
• Michael’s parents paid for his university. Otherwise, he couldn’t have afforded it.
• Mind your steps on the floor, otherwise, you will fall.

Words and Phrases to Use instead of HOWEVER

Despite/in spite of

“Despite” and “in spite of” mean that something is happening though something else may stop or prevent it from happening.

• They were walking in the park despite the rain.
• In spite of his mother’s disagreement, he decided to move abroad.
• In spite of the fact that he was over eighty, he was still healthy and in good shape.

After all

The phrase “after all” means in spite of what was said previously.

• Sandra never wanted to live in the country but when her son got married and bought a house in the village she had to visit him every now and then after all.
• Mary is not supposed to work. She’s over seventy, after all.
• Peter was never worried about money. After all, he knew he would inherit a lot of money from his parents when they die.

Be it as it may

We use the phrase “be it as it may” when we want to change the subject or continue talking about something else, regardless of whether we finished the previous discussion or not.

• We were good friends back in school days. Be it as it may, I’ll never see him again, I suppose.
• Be it as it may, we don’t expect people affected by the earthquake to deal with the consequences by themselves.

Words and Phrases to Use instead of HOWEVER

Having said that

We use the phrase “having said that” to indicate that something is true despite what you said before that.

• This restaurant is quite expensive; having said that, the food is great.
• You will lose weight if you stick to this diet; having said that, try to bring more variety into your diet, as well.
• Brian’s motorbike was in perfect condition, but having said that, it needed a new seat.

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