I have
a very simple question, but nobody has been able to make it clear
to me. I know that the words however and nevertheless
are slightly different in meaning and use. I would much appreciate
it if you could make the differences clear to me.
Roger
Woodham replies:
However
and nevertheless: to express a contrast
We
can use either of the adverbs however or nevertheless
to indicate that the second point we wish to make contrasts with
the first point. The difference is one of formality: nevertheless
is bit more formal and emphatic than however. Consider the
following:
I
can understand everything you say about wanting to share a flat
with Martha. However, I am totally against it.
Rufus
had been living in the village of Edmonton for over a decade.
Nevertheless, the villagers still considered him to be
an outsider.
Note
that however and nevertheless are normally placed
in initial position in a sentence when contrasting two ideas. They
can, however, also come in mid position or end position:
There
will be no more pay increases this year. That is for sure. We
have, however, agreed to carry out a full review of pay
and conditions. We have agreed, nevertheless, to carry
out a full review of pay and conditions.
He's
still able to get around quite well.
His whole life has been plagued by illness, however.
His whole life has been plagued by illness, nevertheless
Less formal
equivalents of however and nevertheless would be even
so, in spite of this, yet or yet..still. These alternatives
would be better suited to spoken English discourse:
She's
really quite ill and has been for some time. Even so / In spite
of this she remains in good spirits.
He
has over a million pounds in his bank account. Yet he still
gets up at six every morning to go to work.
however
and nevertheless: for counter-argument
If
you need to write essays, it is also useful to use however, nevertheless,
nonetheless or even so to introduce the final part of
a three-part structure:
* in
the first part you might outline an argument, introducing it perhaps
with it is often said;
* in the second part you might indicate that there is supporting
evidence using it is true or certainly to introduce
these ideas;
* in the third part introduce the counter-argument with however
or one of the other discourse markers listed above.
It
is said that water pollution is one of the greatest evils
in this country.
It
is true that more and more factories are being built along
this stretch of the river and that a certain amount of waste will
inevitably be discharged into the river.
However,
in all the discussions that I have had with these firms' representatives,
I have not found one who does not have a responsible attitude
to environmental protection.
moreover:
for adding
I often
find when marking essays that moreover is used as an alternative
to however. But be careful here. It does not have the same meaning.
Moreover is the very formal equivalent of futhermore
or in addition which would be the least formal of these three.
These adverbs should be used to support or to add information to
what has already been said:
The
refugees are desperately short of food. They have very little
shelter to protect them from the winter winds that are now blowing.
Furthermore, they are desperately in need of medical supplies.
She
had noticed that there was a man sitting in the second row of
the stalls to her right who was observing her, rather than watching
the play. Moreover, he seemed to be smiling at her as if
he recognised her.
in
conclusion
Finally,
remember that if you are writing essays, it is useful to introduce
the final paragraph with one of these expressions: to conclude,
in conclusion, to sum up:
In
conclusion, it is clear that pollution will continue to plague
our planet for the foreseeable future. However, if individuals
and governments act responsibly, there may come a day in the not
too distant future when a more optimistic outlook is justified.
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you would like more practice more please visit our in the You, Meand Us part of our
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