What is the Difference Between But and However?

The main difference between "but" and "however" lies in their usage and the grammatical categories they belong to. Here are the key points:

1. Usage: "But" is used in more conversational and informal contexts, while "however" is used in more formal and academic contexts.
2. Grammatical Category: "But" is a coordinating conjunction, which means it can link two independent clauses together. "However" is a conjunctive adverb, along with words such as "therefore," "moreover," and "nevertheless".
3. Punctuation: "But" and "however" are punctuated differently because they come from different grammatical categories. A comma is used before "but" to indicate a less significant pause, while a semicolon or a period is used before "however" to create a stronger division between thoughts.
4. Position in a Sentence: "However" can be placed in different positions within a sentence, depending on the context, whereas "but" is typically used to connect two independent clauses.
5. Meaning: Both "but" and "however" can be used to introduce a contrasting or opposing idea, but "however" can also have other meanings depending on its placement in the sentence.

In summary, while "but" and "however" can both be used to introduce contrasting ideas, they differ in their usage, grammatical categories, punctuation, position in a sentence, and flexibility in meaning.

Comparative Table: But vs However

The main difference between "but" and "however" is that "but" is a coordinating conjunction used to link two independent clauses together, while "however" is a conjunctive adverb and does not have the same linking capability. Here is a table summarizing their differences:

Examples:

• I wanted to play outside, but it started raining. (Using "but" as a coordinating conjunction)
• I wanted to play outside; however, it started raining. (Using "however" as a conjunctive adverb)

In summary, "but" is used to link two independent clauses together and can be used in both informal and formal contexts, while "however" is a conjunctive adverb that cannot link independent clauses and is generally used in more formal settings.