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Contrast Connections Part 2: 'However', 'But', 'Yet' and 'Nonetheless'
Fine-Tune Your Business Communication with Advanced Contrast Expressions
Iain Shirlaw
May 14, 2025
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Welcome to Business Fluency - a newsletter designed to enhance your understanding of essential business terms and concepts and provide you with practical strategies to boost your business and career prospects.
In today’s newsletter:
Contrast Connections Part 2: 'However', 'But', 'Yet' and 'Nonetheless' and ‘Nevertheless’
Quote of the day: ‘The Best is Yet to Come’
What I’m Watching/Reading: How to use ‘yet’
Word of the day: Yet
Business English: Test Your Knowledge
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Contrast Connections Part 2: 'However', 'But', 'Yet' and 'Nonetheless' and ‘Nevertheless’
Fine-Tune Your Business Communication with Advanced Contrast Expressions
Last week, we examined contrasting links such as 'although' and 'despite'.
This week, I want to continue with this theme by exploring 'however', 'nonetheless', 'but', and 'yet'.
Yes, 'yet' is on this list.
'Yet' is not just used to talk about things that haven't happened but will happen. It's also a powerful word for contrast.
Let's take a closer look.
However
'However' is used to contrast two separate sentences or clauses.
It is an adverbial linking word and can be positioned at the start or in the middle of a sentence. It often shows a surprising or unexpected contrast.
"Our costs increased in Q1. However, profits remained stable."
For extra emphasis on the profits, I would say:
"Our costs increased in Q1. Profits, however, remained stable."
Nonetheless and Nevertheless
While many students will be familiar with 'however', fewer will know 'nonetheless' or ‘nevertheless’.
'Nonetheless' and ‘nevertheless’ are pronounced as if they were the three individual words that you are familiar with - 'none the less' and ‘never the less’, but they are both written as one word. The meaning is similar to 'however' but is slightly more formal or emphatic. It often appears in formal reports and presentations.
"Our costs increased in Q1. Nonetheless, profits remained stable."
"The market faced significant disruption due to supply chain challenges. Nevertheless, our company maintained its delivery commitments to all clients."
We can also use a semicolon (;) to connect closely related ideas when using adverbial linkers.
"Our costs increased in Q1; nonetheless, profits remained stable."
"The market faced significant disruption due to supply chain challenges; nevertheless, our company maintained its delivery commitments to all clients."
But
‘But’ is a coordinating conjunction, which means that it joins two complete sentences.
Again, it shows contrast, is neutral in formality and is used in both writing and speaking.
"The campaign was well-designed, but it failed to attract customers."
Yet
I am sure that you are familiar with the use of 'yet' as an adverb meaning something that has not happened but is expected to happen in negative sentences or questions.
"The manager has not filed the report yet."
However, 'yet' can also be used as a coordinating conjunction, like 'but', and joins two contrasting ideas. It is slightly more formal or literary than 'but'.
"She had no prior experience, yet she handled the role with confidence."
FANBOYS - 7 Important Coordinating Conjunctions in English
FANBOYS is an acronym representing seven important coordinating conjunctions linking words in English.
Never separate 2 sentences with a comma
Finally, a very common mistake that I see in writing is students separating 2 complete sentences with a comma (,). This is not possible and you should use a full stop and a capital letter for a new sentence or a linking word.
A complete sentence will contain a subject and a verb.
"He was late for the meeting, he apologised"
Correct versions:
"He was late for the meeting. He apologised."
"He was late for the meeting, and he apologised."
"He was late for the meeting, but he apologised."
Next week, we'll look at result-linking expressions such as 'on account of', consequently' and more!
Quote of the Day: ‘The Best is Yet to Come’
Frank Sinatra
The song "The Best Is Yet to Come" was written by Cy Coleman (music) and Carolyn Leigh (lyrics). It was originally introduced in 1959 by Frank Sinatra in the Broadway musical "Little Me."
What I’m Watching/Reading: How to use ‘yet’
Word of the day: Yet
Yet – adverb/conjunction – a short word with surprising flexibility
1. As an Adverb (Negative or Question Contexts)
Used to say something hasn't happened up to now, but is expected to.
"The project hasn’t been completed yet."
"Have they confirmed the meeting yet?"
🟩 Alternative expressions: so far, up to now
💡 This is the most common use of "yet" in business writing. You’ll see it often in emails, updates, and reports.
2. As an Adverb (Formal/Still Anticipated)
Used in more formal or written English to say something is still expected or remains to be done.
"We have yet to receive a response from the client."
"She is yet to show her full potential in this role."
🟩 Alternative expressions: still to, as of now
💡 This use is polite, professional, and slightly more formal. It’s common in business reports or performance reviews.
3. As an Adverb (Emphatic/Progressive)
Used to highlight that something is continuing, increasing, or reaching a new level.
"It was our most successful launch yet."
"The price has risen yet again this week."
🟩 Alternative expressions: so far, once again
💡 This version of "yet" often appears in sales updates, performance reviews, and financial commentary.
4. As a Conjunction (Contrast)
Used to connect two contrasting ideas – like but, but with a slightly more formal tone.
"She had no experience, yet she led the team to success."
"The market is volatile, yet our strategy remains steady."
🟩 Alternative expressions: nevertheless, nonetheless
💡 In business, this structure is useful when showing how challenges were overcome.
Pro Tip:
Placement matters. In business English, yet can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. Each position shifts the emphasis:
"Yet, the results were better than expected."
"The results were better than expected yet again."
Business English: Test Your Knowledge
Which sentence correctly uses ‘yet’ as a conjunction showing contrast? |
Which of these is a formal alternative to 'however'? |
Which punctuation mark can correctly link two related sentences when using 'nonetheless' or 'nevertheless'? |
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Disclaimer:
This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The information contained herein is generic and does not take into account your individual financial circumstances. You should always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial decisions.
Additionally, the authors and/or publishers of this newsletter may hold investments in securities or other financial instruments mentioned herein. These are included for illustrative purposes only and should not be taken as a recommendation to buy or sell such securities or financial instruments.