Concession and Contrast

Although, though and even though all introduce concession. Their difference is strength and style. Even though strengthens the contrast and emphasises a particularly unexpected result. Although is neutral and suitable for writing. Though sounds more conversational.

Standard English has no form even although; the strengthened form is even though. For concession without extra emphasis, Although is sufficient.

The concessive clause can come at the beginning or end of the sentence. At the beginning, it is separated from the main clause by a comma. At the end, a comma is not compulsory; it is often added to emphasise the contrast.

Position changes emphasis: the opening clause sounds like an acknowledgement, while the main clause carries the central message.

Although already creates a contrast between the two clauses. But also expresses contrast, so using both to join the same clauses duplicates the link. This is a common error: Although it was cheap, but it was good.

The main clause need not be empty of emphasis: still can emphasise the unexpected result without repeating the conjunction.

Even though presents a circumstance as accepted as true: Even though she is busy, she will help. It can also refer to the future: Even though I’ll be away, I’ll answer your messages. Even if means the result holds under that condition regardless of whether it is fulfilled.

Choose by how you present the circumstance: acknowledge it with even though; show that it will not change the result even if fulfilled with even if. Even if can also provisionally accept someone else’s claim; it does not always mean the speaker knows nothing of the truth.

Though has another use: in conversation, it can come at the end of a sentence or phrase as an adverb, rather than a conjunction. It adds a contrast to what came before and does not introduce a subordinate clause.

Although has no such use. To end a phrase with this contrast, use though.

Here we practise concessive clauses with although, though and even though. Despite and in spite of require a noun or -ing and are covered by a related rule. However, nevertheless and nonetheless connect separate sentences and also have their own rule.

Do not add but as a second conjunction joining the same two clauses with although. However has a different grammatical role and can occur in more complex sentences, but one clear linking device is usually enough for a simple contrast.

Despite and in spite of allow three kinds of continuation: a noun phrase (the strong competition), an -ing form (having read, being invited), and a clause introduced through the fact that. A subject and finite verb directly after them (despite she was tired) is not possible; neither is a base form (despite be tired) or a to-infinitive.

A pronoun can take the place of a noun: despite this, in spite of everything. This is useful when the obstacle has already been named in the previous sentence.

If you want to retain a complete clause with its own tense and subject after despite or in spite of, use the fact that. Another option is to change the whole pattern to although + full clause.

When the subject of the obstacle is the same as the main clause's subject, the clause can conveniently be reduced to an -ing form. A simple form (being) describes a state or action generally. A perfect form (having read) emphasises completion before the main action. A passive form (being invited, having been warned) is needed when the subject undergoes rather than performs the action.

Put negation before the -ing form: not knowing, never having lived. The preposition remains affirmative, while not or never comes directly before the verb.

A typical learner error is leaving the verb in its bare form (despite have) or using a to-infinitive (despite to have). English requires the -ing form here.

Sometimes reducing a clause to a noun or -ing form is impossible or unnatural: it has its own subject, tense or modality. Then use the fact that. Despite the fact that functions like a concessive conjunction, although formally it is still the same preposition with the noun phrase the fact.

After the fact that, use the normal clause order: subject, verb, the rest. Note that in spite of the fact that retains of, while despite the fact that remains without it.

The fact that makes the expression longer but lets you retain the full clause without restructuring it. Although + clause often conveys precisely the same meaning. Choose the form that is easier to read in the particular context.

If the obstacle involves someone or something different from the main clause's subject, the -ing form needs its own noun or pronoun: the printer being broken, her brother living abroad. Without it, the -ing form attaches to the main clause's subject, producing the wrong meaning.

Compare Despite being broken, ...: this reads as though the main clause's subject is broken. When the participants differ, therefore, either give the -ing form its own subject or use the fact that or a noun.

Before -ing, a possessive form (his being late) or, especially in conversation, an object form (him being late) can be used. If the action belongs to someone other than the main clause's subject, name that participant or restructure the sentence.

Despite and in spite of have the same meaning; their difference is in form. Despite is one word and is not followed by of. In spite of is three words, with of as a required part. The most common incorrect versions are despite of, in spite without of, and in despite of.

The concessive phrase can be placed at the beginning or end of a sentence. At the beginning, separate it from the main clause with a comma. At the end, a comma is usually not used, though one is possible for additional emphasis.

Despite and in spite of are usually interchangeable in this pattern. The preposition's form changes, not the concessive meaning.

Although, though and even though usually introduce a full subordinate clause: Although the museum was crowded… Reduced forms such as although tired are also possible. Despite and in spite of use their own pattern: a noun phrase, -ing or the fact that + clause.

However, nevertheless and nonetheless are linking expressions between clauses or sentences; they can follow a full stop or semicolon. These connectors also have their own rule.

Because of and due to express cause, not concession. Compare Because of the crowds, we saw very little (cause) and Despite the crowds, we saw everything (concession). The difference is in meaning, not grammatical form.

The procedure has three steps. First, find the clause expressing the obstacle: in a sentence with although, it is the part following the conjunction. Next, look at the subjects: if they match, the clause can be reduced to -ing without an explicit subject. If they differ, give -ing its own subject or use a noun or the fact that.

A noun sometimes provides the simplest expression, but does not always preserve the same emphasis. The closed shop names a shop that is closed, whereas the shop being closed highlights the circumstance of its being closed. Both versions are possible; choose for clarity.

The final check is always the same: no subject with a finite verb directly after the preposition (except with the fact that), no of after despite, and no bare verb.

Two independent ideas need a stronger boundary than a comma: a full stop or semicolon. A comma alone produces an error called a comma splice.

After a full stop, capitalise the connector. After a semicolon, use a lower-case letter because the sentence continues. A semicolon works when the two ideas are closely related and you want them to read as one whole.

At the beginning of the second idea, put a comma after the connector: However, … / Nevertheless, … / Nonetheless, …. This is the standard written punctuation.

Parenthetical however within a clause is usually set off by paired commas: The board, however, is cautious. Nevertheless and nonetheless can be parenthetical, but can also be closely integrated into the predicate without commas: The festival nevertheless broke even. Punctuation depends on how the word is integrated, rather than only on its position.

However is especially common in final position, with a comma before it. This position sounds lighter and more conversational.

Nevertheless and nonetheless mean “despite what has been said”. The second idea must therefore be unexpected in light of the first: a difficulty might have prevented something but did not. These two words are almost interchangeable.

However has a wider meaning: it can express concession or simply contrast two facts. Nevertheless and nonetheless usually imply “despite this”, so they need an appropriate relationship with the preceding idea or wider context.

Compare the structures: although introduces a subordinate clause; despite introduces a noun phrase, -ing or the fact that; however as a linking adverb comments on the relationship between ideas. They can coexist in a complex sentence, but do not replace each other mechanically.

However has another meaning: before an adjective, adverb or clause, it can mean “no matter how”. This is not a connector between sentences: an adjective, adverb or clause follows, and the comma comes only after the whole subordinate clause.

But or however is usually sufficient for a simple contrast. But, however,… can be an emphatic or parenthetical combination, but often overloads the expression. If you remove but between two independent clauses and leave only however, use a full stop or semicolon.

None the less, written as three words, is an alternative spelling of nonetheless found in British writing. In this topic, we write nevertheless and nonetheless as single words. Connectors are not decoration: use them only when the second idea really contrasts with the first, and do not string them through every sentence.