What is “nevertheless”? The usage of “nevertheless” in English

However, but, nevertheless are often used to indicate contrast between two clauses with opposing meanings. What does Nevertheless mean and in which cases is it used? PREP will explore the details of the Nevertheless in the below article!

I. What is “nevertheless”?

Nevertheless means "in spite of that" or "despite this," serving as a bridge between contrasting ideas in your writing.

This word acts as a pivot, signaling to readers that what comes next will happen despite what came before. When you use nevertheless, you acknowledge a previous statement while introducing information that might seem contradictory or unexpected. The word creates emphasis by highlighting the contrast between two related but opposing concepts, making your argument more compelling and your narrative more engaging.

The term nevertheless originates from the phrase "never the less," which literally meant "not any the less" or "not at all less." This historical connection helps you remember its meaning: something remains true or happens regardless of opposing circumstances. Understanding this origin provides a memorable anchor for grasping how nevertheless functions in modern English writing.

Below are some nevertheless examples:

• The competition was high. Nevertheless, I won.
• The test was very difficult; nevertheless, I earned a good grade

II. The positions of “nevertheless” in the sentence 

Nevertheless adapts to three sentence positions, each creating distinct emphasis and tone effects that enhance your writing precision.

Position Selection Strategy: 

• For Strong Contrast: Begin sentences with nevertheless when you want immediate attention to opposing ideas or unexpected results. This placement creates the most dramatic effect and suits formal writing contexts.
• For Academic Balance: Use middle position when acknowledging counterpoints without disrupting your argument's logical progression. The semicolon-nevertheless-comma structure maintains professional tone while integrating contrasts smoothly.
• For Casual Tone: End position works when the contrasting idea feels supplementary rather than central to your message. This placement creates conversational flow and reduces formality.

The key lies in matching position choice to your intended emphasis level and audience expectations. Strong contrasts demand beginning placement, while subtle acknowledgments work better at sentence end.

III. The usage of “nevertheless”

“Nevertheless” is often used to convey surprising information or to express something that contradicts what was previously mentioned. Below are some specific examples of using “nevertheless” in different contexts:

1. “Nevertheless” is at the beginning of the sentence 

When placed at the beginning of a sentence, "nevertheless" acts as a conjunctive adverb linking two ideas that contrast with each other. It's important to note that proper punctuation rules should be followed when using this word.

The structure is as follows:

Clause 1. Nevertheless, clause 2. 

Or

Clause 1; nevertheless, clause 2.

For example:

• He stopped working as a doctor in 2010. Nevertheless, he remained active in medical research. 
• The weather was sunny; nevertheless, I didn’t go to the beach.

2. “Nevertheless” is at the middle of the sentence

In this case, Nevertheless serves as an introductory conjunctive adverb. 

The structure is as follows:

Clause 1, nevertheless, clause 2.

For example:

• Some people disagree with this idea, nevertheless, nobody speaks up.
• They expressed their personal opinion, nevertheless, it was impolite. 

Note: a comma should follow Nevertheless. In special cases, when Nevertheless is adding meaning to adjacent verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, a comma is not necessary.

For example:

• Although already crazy due to the heavy traffic, I was nevertheless calm.
• The project failed. I have nevertheless decided to start again.

3. “Nevertheless” is at the end of the sentence

When placed at the end of a sentence, "nevertheless" conveys the meaning that regardless of what happens, the subject will still carry out the action, however, there is a period of stopping to consider before deciding whether to implement the action or not.

The structure is as follows:

Sentence 1. (,) Sentence 2, nevertheless. 

S + V, but S + V + nevertheless.

Note: In this case, the comma is optional. 

For example: 

• My project failed. I would start the project again, nevertheless.
• I knew everything about the film, but I watched it again nevertheless.

IV. Equivalent structures/phrases to “nevertheless”

Below are some equivalent structures/phrases to “nevertheless” that you should know:

V. Common words and phrases that are often used with Nevertheless

Common words and phrases that are most often used with Nevertheless are Still, but. For example:

• We broke up, he still cares about me nevertheless.
• It’s late for the meeting. She’s still having breakfast nevertheless. 
• What you said was true but nevertheless useful. 

VI. Some notes on “Nevertheless”

It is important to note the following to use “nevertheless”:

• It's important to pay attention to proper punctuation and placement.
• Distinguish the meanings and nuances of structures, phrases, and synonyms with Nevertheless to know how to use them correctly. 

Below are some differences between Nevertheless and similar phrases/structures that you should know:

VII. Exercises on “nevertheless”

Please do the following exercises to master the usage of “nevertheless”:

1. Exercise 1: Correct or Incorrect

1. She really appreciates you nevertheless you still have to lose points for copying the exam.

• Correct
• Incorrect 

2. “Nevertheless” can be placed at the end of the sentence. 

• Correct
• Incorrect 

3. “Nevertheless” can come after “but”.

•  Correct
•  Incorrect 

2. Exercise 2: Choose the correct answers 

1. My brother said his English is terrible. ____, he got a perfect score on his exam.

• A. Nevertheless
• B. Despite
• C. Although

2. I didn’t study for the test. ____, I passed it.

• A. Although
• B. Though
• C. Nevertheless

3. The air quality in the city is alarming. ____that, she likes living there.

• A. Yet
• B. Nonetheless
• C. Despite

4. There aren’t many beautiful places here, but I was having a memorable time ____.

• A. despite
• B. even so
• C. that yet

5. She is a vegetarian. ____, she sometimes eats meat. 

• A. Although
• B. However
• C. Despite

3. Answer keys

• Exercise 1: 1 – Incorrect; 2 – Correct; 3 – Correct 
• Exercise 2: 1 – A; 2 – C; 3 – C; 4 – B; 5 – B 

VIII. Frequently Asked Questions About Nevertheless

1. What does "nevertheless" mean?

Nevertheless means "in spite of that" or "despite this," functioning as a conjunctive adverb that introduces contrasting information. The word signals that what follows happens regardless of the previous statement or circumstance. For a comprehensive understanding of its core meaning and etymology, refer to our detailed explanation in "The Core Meaning" section above.

2. How to use "nevertheless" in English?

Nevertheless functions as a conjunctive adverb that connects two independent clauses or sentences. The most important rule requires using a semicolon before nevertheless and a comma after it when connecting complete sentences: "The task seemed impossible; nevertheless, she completed it successfully." This punctuation prevents grammatical errors while maintaining proper sentence flow. For complete punctuation guidelines and additional usage patterns, review our "How to Punctuate 'Nevertheless' Flawlessly" section.

3. Is nevertheless formal or informal?

Nevertheless is a formal word best suited for academic writing, business communication, and other professional contexts. While not overly complex, it carries more weight than casual alternatives like "but" or "still." For less formal writing, consider "however" as a slightly more accessible option, though nevertheless examples demonstrate sophisticated vocabulary mastery that enhances credibility in formal discourse. Our comparison section provides detailed analysis of formality levels across similar connecting words.

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