but

but — conjunction

1. a joining word that introduces a second idea which the listener would not expect

1.conjunctionA1
Definition

a joining word that introduces a second idea which the listener would not expect after the first — often a contrasting fact, a small exception, or a polite apology before bad news.

Example

Marcus loves swimming, but he is afraid of deep water.

links two contrasting facts about the same person

The cake looked beautiful, but it tasted a bit too sweet.

joins a positive observation with a negative one

Common collocations
  • yes, but…
  • sorry, but…
  • not… but…
Synonyms
  • however

    more formal; usually starts a new sentence with a comma

  • yet

    stronger contrast, slightly literary

  • though

    informal; often added at the end of the second clause

Antonyms
  • and

    joins ideas that agree or add up rather than contrast

  • so

    shows result rather than contrast

Grammar Patterns

clause + but + clause

Usage Note

Often opens a sentence in speech and informal writing ("But why not?"). When it joins two full clauses, a comma usually goes before "but". Distinguish from preposition sense (preposition/1) which means "except" and is followed by a noun, not a clause.

Common Mistakes

Although the room was small, but it felt cosy.
Although the room was small, it felt cosy.
do not use "although" and "but" together; pick one.
I tried to call you. But, you didn't pick up.
I tried to call you, but you didn't pick up.
no comma after "but" when joining clauses; the comma goes before it.
Idioms

but for

idiom

This phrase means 'if it were not for' and introduces the only thing that prevented something from happening.

But for the rain, we would have gone to the beach.

The room was empty but for a single chair.

but then (again)

idiom

This phrase introduces a contrasting idea or shows that something is not surprising given a certain fact.

She might be late, but then again she might not come at all.

He speaks French well, but then he lived in Paris for years.

you cannot/could not but…

idiom

This phrase means that there is no other possible action or choice except the one mentioned.

I could not but admire his courage in the face of danger.

What could she do but accept the job offer?

but — preposition

but — noun

but — adverb

Synonym discussion

Sense: conjunction/1

All five words signal contrast, but their grammar and feel differ. "But" is the everyday choice for joining two clauses inside one sentence: short, neutral, and informal-friendly ("It is cheap, but it works."). "However" is more formal and usually opens a new sentence followed by a comma ("It is cheap. However, it works."). "Yet" is close to "but" but sounds slightly literary and stresses surprise ("It is cheap, yet it works beautifully."). "Though" can replace "but" in conversation and often slides to the end of the second clause ("It is cheap. It works, though."). "Although" introduces a subordinate clause and never pairs with "but" in the same joining role: write "Although it is cheap, it works" — not "Although it is cheap, but it works."

but ↗however ↗yet ↗though ↗although ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • yes, but…
  • sorry, but…
  • no buts
  • ifs and buts
  • no ifs, ands, or buts
  • anything but
  • nothing but
  • everyone but
  • last but not least
  • but then again

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

"But" comes from Old English "būtan", meaning "outside of" or "without", which itself was built from "be" (by) plus "ūtan" (out). Its earliest jobs in English were as a preposition and adverb meaning "outside" or "except", and you can still feel that older meaning in modern uses like "everyone but Sam". The contrast-conjunction sense ("It rained, but we went anyway") grew out of the "except" idea: saying "this is true, except for that" gradually became a way of saying "this is true, however that is also true". The noun use ("no buts") is much younger — it began as a playful turn of the conjunction into a word people could count.