Contrasting Words: Although, However, Whereas & More
Level B2 · Conjunctions & Linking Words
Many words in English mean roughly the same thing — showing that two ideas don't fit together the way you'd expect — but they aren't interchangeable, because each one is a different part of speech and connects to the rest of the sentence differently. It rained, but we went for a walk; It rained. However, we went for a walk; Despite the rain, we went for a walk; Although it rained, we went for a walk — four sentences with the same basic meaning, four different grammatical machines underneath. Getting the punctuation and sentence structure right matters as much as picking a word that means "contrast."
Subordinating conjunctions join a clause of contrast to a main clause, and the sentence can start with either half:
- although / though / even though — though is the most informal of the three and, unusually, can also stand alone at the very end of a sentence: I didn't like it, though. even though is the strongest, for a contrast that's especially surprising.
- whereas (and while, used the same way) — contrasts two separate facts or two different people/things, rather than conceding a point about one thing: Whereas my brother loves sports, I prefer reading.
But and yet are coordinating conjunctions: they join two independent clauses in one sentence, with a comma before them:
- but — the everyday, neutral choice: It was cheap, but it broke quickly.
- yet — a more formal, literary equivalent of but in this job: The plan was risky, yet it worked perfectly. This is a completely different word from the yet that means "up to now" (I haven't finished yet) — same spelling, unrelated function.
Linking adverbs connect two contrasting sentences without joining them grammatically — they start a new sentence (or follow a semicolon) and take a comma right after:
- however — the most common and neutral: It was expensive. However, we bought it.
- nevertheless / nonetheless — more formal, meaning "despite that": She studied hard; nevertheless, she failed the exam.
- on the other hand — introduces a second, contrasting point, often paired with on one hand for the first: On one hand, the flat is cheap. On the other hand, it's far from the center.
- on the contrary — actively corrects or rejects what was just said, stronger than a plain contrast: He said he was busy. On the contrary, I saw him at the cinema.
- even so — close to nevertheless, but more conversational: The team played badly; even so, they won.
Despite, in spite of, unlike, and instead of are prepositions: a noun or an -ing form follows directly, never a full clause with its own subject and verb:
- despite / in spite of — identical meaning, interchangeable: despite the rain / in spite of the rain, despite raining / in spite of raining.
- unlike — contrasts two different people or things: Unlike his brother, he hates sports.
- instead of — one thing replaces another: Instead of walking, we took the bus.
The most common mistake is despite of — despite and in spite of are two separate, correct expressions, and mixing their endings together (despite of the rain) is wrong; it's despite the rain or in spite of the rain, never both combined. A second frequent error is treating however like but — It was expensive, however we bought it is wrong, because however needs its own sentence or at least a semicolon, not a comma: It was expensive. However, we bought it (or It was expensive; however, we bought it). A third mistake is putting a full clause after despite/in spite of — despite it was raining is wrong; these two need a noun or an -ing form (despite the rain, despite raining), or the longer despite the fact that + clause if a full clause is really needed.
Check what follows the contrast word to identify its job: a comma then a full clause mid-sentence points to but or yet (coordinating); a clause that can also open the sentence points to although/though/even though/whereas (subordinating). A full stop or semicolon before it, and a comma right after, points to however/nevertheless/on the other hand/on the contrary/even so (linking adverb); and a noun or -ing form with no clause at all points to despite/in spite of/unlike/instead of (preposition).