And vs. But — What's the Difference?
Difference Between And and But
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And
Used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly
A hundred and fifty
Bread and butter
They can read and write
But
On the contrary
The plan caused not prosperity but ruin.
And
Used to introduce an additional comment or interjection
If it came to a choice—and this was the worst thing—she would turn her back on her parents
But
Contrary to expectation; yet
She organized her work but accomplished very little. He is tired but happy.
And
Used after some verbs and before another verb to indicate intention, instead of ‘to’
I would try and do what he said
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But
Usage Problem Used to indicate an exception
No one but she saw the prowler.
And
A Boolean operator which gives the value one if and only if all the operands are one, and otherwise has a value of zero.
But
With the exception that; except that. Often used with that
Would have joined the band but he couldn't spare the time.
Would have resisted but that they lacked courage.
And
A logical operator that returns a true value only if both operands are true.
But
(Informal) Without the result that
It never rains but it pours.
And
An addition or stipulation
The offer is final—no ifs, ands, or buts.
But
(Informal) That. Often used after a negative
There is no doubt but right will prevail.
And
Together with or along with; in addition to; as well as. Used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that have the same grammatical function in a construction.
But
That ... not. Used after a negative or question
There never is a tax law presented but someone will oppose it.
And
Added to; plus
Two and two makes four.
But
(Informal) Than
They had no sooner arrived but they turned around and left.
And
Used to indicate result
Give the boy a chance, and he might surprise you.
But
Usage Problem Except.
And
(Informal) Used after a verb such as come, go, or try to introduce another verb describing the purpose of the action
Come and see.
Try and find it. See Usage Note at try.
But
Merely; just; only
Hopes that lasted but a moment.
And
(Archaic) If
And it please you.
But
Used as an intensive
Get out of here but fast!.
And
As a coordinating conjunction; expressing two elements to be taken together or in addition to each other.
But
A concern or objection
My offer is final, no ifs, ands, or buts.
And
Used simply to connect two noun phrases, adjectives or adverbs.
But
Apart from, except (for), excluding.
Everyone but Father left early.
I like everything but that.
Nobody answered the door when I knocked, so I had no choice but to leave.
And
Simply connecting two clauses or sentences.
But
Outside of.
Away but the hoose and tell me whae's there.
And
Introducing a clause or sentence which follows on in time or consequence from the first.
But
Merely, only, just, no more than
Christmas comes but once a year.
And
(obsolete) Yet; but.
But
Though, however.
I'll have to go home early but.
And
Used to connect certain numbers: connecting units when they precede tens not dated; connecting tens and units to hundreds, thousands etc. (now often omitted in US); to connect fractions to wholes.
But
, although, nevertheless, on the other hand introducing a clause contrary to prior belief or in contrast with the preceding clause or sentence.
She is very old but still attractive.
You told me I could do that, but she said that I could not.
And
Used to connect more than two elements together in a chain, sometimes to stress the number of elements.
But
, rather adversative conjunction, introducing a word or clause in contrast or contradiction with the preceding negative clause or sentence}}.
I am not rich but [I am] poor.
Not John but Peter went there.
And
Connecting two identical elements, with implications of continued or infinite repetition.
But
(colloquial) Used at the beginning of a sentence to express opposition to a remark.
But I never said you could do that!
And
Introducing a parenthetical or explanatory clause.
But
Except that (introducing a subordinate clause which qualifies a negative statement); also, with omission of the subject of the subordinate clause, acting as a negative relative, "except one that", "except such that".
I cannot but feel offended.
And
Introducing the continuation of narration from a previous understood point; also used alone as a question: ‘and so what?’.
But
(colloquial) Used to link an interjection to the following remark as an intensifier.
Wow! But that's amazing!
And
Used to connect two verbs where the second is dependent on the first: ‘to’. Used especially after come, go and try.
But
(archaic) Without it also being the case that; unless that (introducing a necessary concomitant).
It never rains but it pours.
And
Introducing a qualitative difference between things having the same name; "as well as other".
But
(obsolete) Except with; unless with; without.
And
Used to combine numbers in addition; plus (with singular or plural verb).
But
(obsolete) Only; solely; merely.
And
(heading) Expressing a condition.
But
(obsolete) Until.
And
If; provided that.
But
That.
And
(obsolete) As if, as though.
But
An instance or example of using the word "but".
It has to be done – no ifs or buts.
And
Connecting two well-formed formulas to create a well formed formula that requires the new formula to only be true when each of the two are true.
But
(Scotland) The outer room of a small two-room cottage.
And
In rhythm, the second half of a divided beat.
But
A limit; a boundary.
And
Breath.
But
The end; especially the larger or thicker end, or the blunt, in distinction from the sharp, end; the butt.
And
; steam fog.
But
(archaic) Use the word "but".
But me no buts.
And
To breathe; whisper; devise; imagine.
But
Except with; unless with; without.
So insolent that he could not go but either spurning equals or trampling on his inferiors.
Touch not the cat but a glove.
And
A particle which expresses the relation of connection or addition. It is used to conjoin a word with a word, a clause with a clause, or a sentence with a sentence.
But
Except; besides; save.
Who can it be, ye gods! but perjured Lycon?
And
In order to; - used instead of the infinitival to, especially after try, come, go.
At least to try and teach the erring soul.
But
Excepting or excluding the fact that; save that; were it not that; unless; - elliptical, for but that.
And but my noble Moor is true of mind . . . it were enough to put him to ill thinking.
And
It is sometimes, in old songs, a mere expletive.
When that I was and a little tiny boy.
But
Otherwise than that; that not; - commonly, after a negative, with that.
It cannot be but nature hath some director, of infinite power, to guide her in all her ways.
There is no question but the king of Spain will reform most of the abuses.
But
Only; solely; merely.
Observe but how their own principles combat one another.
If they kill us, we shall but die.
A formidable man but to his friends.
But
On the contrary; on the other hand; only; yet; still; however; nevertheless; more; further; - as connective of sentences or clauses of a sentence, in a sense more or less exceptive or adversative; as, the House of Representatives passed the bill, but the Senate dissented; our wants are many, but quite of another kind.
Now abideth faith hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
When pride cometh, then cometh shame; but with the lowly is wisdom.
But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; . . . the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him.
But this I read, that but if remedyThou her afford, full shortly I her dead shall see.
But
The outer apartment or kitchen of a two-roomed house; - opposed to ben, the inner room.
But
A limit; a boundary.
But
The end; esp. the larger or thicker end, or the blunt, in distinction from the sharp, end. Now disused in this sense, being replaced by butt{2}. See 1st Butt.
But
And nothing more;
I was merely asking
It is simply a matter of time
Just a scratch
He was only a child
Hopes that last but a moment
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