Cool MateBut vs On the other hand
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
But
High-frequency chunkA1conjunction
On the other hand
| But | On the other hand | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/bət//bʌt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/bət//bʌt/"]/ | |
| Meaning | Used to show contrast or exception. | |
| Example | I wanted to go, but it started to rain. | - |
| Register | Neutral | - |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | - |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | conjunction | |
| Collocations | but I thought, but what about, but still, but then, but also | - |
| Antonyms | and, or | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'but' with 'and' when showing contrast., Starting a sentence with 'but' in very formal writing., Using a comma before 'but' when the clauses are very short. | - |
| Usage notes | 'But' is used to connect two contrasting ideas. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written English but may sound abrupt in very formal writing. | - |
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Frequently asked questions: But vs On the other hand
What's the difference between But and On the other hand?
But: Used to show contrast or exception. On the other hand:
Can I use But and On the other hand interchangeably?
Not always. But and On the other hand are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.