Cool MateOn the other hand vs Whereas
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
On the other hand
Whereas
FormalTop 5,000 (fairly common)B2conjunction
| On the other hand | Whereas | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌweərˈæz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌwerˈæz/"]/ | |
| Meaning | used to show a contrast between two things | |
| Example | - | Some of the studies show positive results, whereas others do not. |
| Register | - | Formal |
| How common | - | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | conjunction | |
| Collocations | - | whereas some, whereas others, whereas in contrast |
| Antonyms | - | similarly, likewise |
| Common mistakes | - | Confusing 'whereas' with 'while' in informal contexts., Using 'whereas' without a complete clause following it., Overusing 'whereas' instead of simpler conjunctions in casual writing. |
| Usage notes | - | Often used in academic or formal writing to compare two contrasting ideas or situations. It's less common in everyday conversation. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: On the other hand vs Whereas
What's the difference between On the other hand and Whereas?
On the other hand: Whereas: used to show a contrast between two things
Can I use On the other hand and Whereas interchangeably?
Not always. On the other hand and Whereas 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.