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Nevertheless or never the less: One Word Contrast

Why is nevertheless written as one word instead of three words?

Nevertheless means despite that, even so, or in spite of what was just mentioned. It acknowledges an existing difficulty, limit, or opposing circumstance without canceling it out. The listener understands that both facts are true, but the second fact occurred regardless of the first.

ポイント

  • Write nevertheless as one word and use it for a concessive contrast.
  • The second fact is true despite the first, whether the result is good or bad.
  • A comma normally follows it at the start of a sentence.
レッスンを始める

このレッスンにはステージが5つあります。いつでも中断して、あとで続きから再開できます。

A man and a woman sit at a café table under an awning, smiling and drinking coffee while rain falls on the street.

ステージ 1 / 5

理解

意味、使う場面、避けたい間違いを学びます。

例

The route was steep and rocky. Nevertheless, the hikers reached the summit before sunset.

この表現を使う理由: Nevertheless highlights that the difficult terrain did not stop the hikers from completing their climb.

ほかの例を2件見る
  • The budget remained tight throughout autumn; the director nevertheless approved our research grant.

    The connector sits between the subject and verb to show that limited funds did not prevent grant approval.

  • Heavy rain delayed the train service. Nevertheless, Sarah arrived at the interview room on time.

    The initial connector emphasizes punctuality despite the transit disruption.

基本から解説を読む

8項目の短い解説と各1問の確認問題

Write the connector as one continuous word

When writing in English, you must join this connector into a single solid word without any spaces between letters. Some learners write never the less because they hear three distinct units of speech. In modern print and digital correspondence, splitting the word into three parts is treated as an outright spelling mistake. Always keep the twelve letters together whenever your intended meaning is despite that or even so.

  • The flight departed thirty minutes late. Nevertheless, we arrived in Denver before noon.

    この表現を使う理由: Writing nevertheless as one solid word correctly signals that the flight delay did not prevent an on-time arrival.

自分で試す

Which sentence shows the correct spelling of the transitional connector?

答えを見る

答え: The workshop was crowded. Nevertheless, we found two open chairs near the front.

Modern English requires nevertheless as a single unhyphenated compound word without internal spaces.

Check for a contrast with what was expected

Check that the second fact contrasts with what the first might lead you to expect. For example, someone may prepare carefully and nevertheless fail. The connector does not require the first fact to be a problem or the second to be a success. Use so or therefore for a straightforward result instead.

  • The instructions contained confusing diagrams. Nevertheless, Marcus assembled the desk correctly.

    この表現を使う理由: Confusing diagrams create an obstacle, making correct assembly a contrasting positive achievement.

Third conditional: explanation and examplesとPut into perspectiveでこれをもう一度練習できます。

自分で試す

Why does nevertheless fit the sentence: 'The wind blew violently. Nevertheless, the ferry completed its crossing'?

答えを見る

答え: Because the crossing succeeded despite the severe obstacle presented by violent wind.

The connector shows that an adverse weather condition failed to stop the ship from reaching its destination.

Open a new sentence with a following comma

Placing the connector at the beginning of a fresh sentence makes your logical transition very clear for the reader. When you start a sentence with this adverb, you should always follow it immediately with a comma. This punctuation mark tells the reader to pause briefly and recognize that the upcoming clause contrasts directly with the sentence that came right before it.

  • The hotel kitchen ran out of bread. Nevertheless, the chef prepared a wonderful breakfast for us.

    この表現を使う理由: A period closes the first clause, and a comma separates the initial connector from the subject.

自分で試す

Which punctuation pattern correctly opens a new sentence with this transitional word?

答えを見る

答え: The printer broke down. Nevertheless, the clerk finished filing the documents.

When nevertheless begins a new sentence after a period, it must be followed by a comma.

Place the connector directly after the subject

You do not have to put the connector at the very start of your sentence every time. For variety in business emails and formal essays, you can position it inside the clause between the subject and the main verb. In this middle position, the sentence flows smoothly without heavy pauses, while still preserving the contrast between your two central thoughts.

  • David felt nervous before the presentation; he nevertheless answered every question calmly.

    この表現を使う理由: Placing the connector after the pronoun subject creates a polished and unbroken rhythm.

自分で試す

Which example correctly places the connector inside the clause rather than at the start?

答えを見る

答え: The team had little time; they nevertheless produced an exceptional marketing design.

Placing the adverb directly between the subject pronoun and the main verb creates standard formal syntax.

Distinguish nevertheless from the coordinating conjunction but

But joins clauses as a coordinating conjunction. Nevertheless is an adverb meaning despite that, often used across a sentence break or after a semicolon. It tends to sound more formal and emphasizes a concessive contrast, whether the second fact is positive or negative.

  • The apartment was compact, but it had large sunny windows.

    この表現を使う理由: The conjunction but joins two short clauses into one unified sentence with minimal formality.

自分で試す

When should you prefer nevertheless over the simpler coordinating conjunction but?

答えを見る

答え: When you want to emphasize that the second fact is true despite the first.

Nevertheless expresses concession, not necessarily persistence, success, or a positive outcome.

Avoid splitting the word into three separate elements

Centuries ago, English speakers used the phrase never the less as three distinct words meaning not any less. Over time, that literal three-word phrase disappeared from regular usage as the single compound adverb took over. If you write never the less in a modern email, readers will view it as an accidental spacing mistake rather than sophisticated vocabulary. Treat the word as one indivisible unit at all times.

  • The car was fifteen years old. Nevertheless, the engine ran smoothly across the mountains.

    この表現を使う理由: Only the single-word compound conveys the modern transitional meaning of despite that.

自分で試す

What happens if a writer uses 'never the less' as three separate words in a modern report?

答えを見る

答え: The reader will consider the three words an accidental spacing and spelling error.

Modern standard English does not recognize the three-word spaced phrase as an acceptable connector.

Pronounce the final syllable with clear primary stress

When speaking, English learners often place the primary stress on the wrong syllable by accenting the first part. The correct pronunciation places secondary stress on the first syllable and strong primary stress on the final syllable, less. The middle part contains a soft voiced th sound followed by a weak vowel. Practicing this rhythm ensures native listeners recognize the connector immediately during conversation or oral presentations.

  • The weather turned chilly. Nevertheless, our guests stayed on the terrace.

    この表現を使う理由: The speaker places primary vocal stress on less, followed by a slight pause before continuing.

自分で試す

Where should you place the strongest vocal stress when pronouncing nevertheless?

答えを見る

答え: On the final syllable, so the word finishes with the strongest beat.

Standard English pronunciation places the primary syllable stress on the final part of the word.

Verify contrast and spelling before sending your text

Before sending an email or submitting an essay, check two things. First, make sure nevertheless introduces a result that contrasts with what the first statement might lead someone to expect. Second, check that all twelve letters are written together as one word.

  • The conference tickets were expensive. Nevertheless, three hundred engineers attended the keynote.

    この表現を使う理由: The sentence pair passes both checks: high ticket price creates an obstacle, and the connector is spelled as one word.

自分で試す

What are the two essential things to review when proofreading this connector?

答えを見る

答え: Whether the facts form a concessive contrast and nevertheless is spelled as one word.

Checking for a real logical contrast and confirming the one-word compound prevents the most frequent learner mistakes.

「Nevertheless or never the less: One Word Contrast」に関する質問

Why is nevertheless written as one word instead of three words?

In modern English, nevertheless is a single adverb functioning as a transitional connector. While it originated centuries ago from the phrase never the less, English combined those words into a permanent compound. Writing it as three separate words looks like an error to contemporary readers and editors.

The wind blew hard. Nevertheless, we walked along the pier.

Is nevertheless interchangeable with however?

Both words introduce a contrast between two statements. However is broader and appears frequently in casual, academic, and business speech. Nevertheless is slightly more formal and places heavier emphasis on the idea of 'despite that fact' or 'even so'.

The price increased sharply. Nevertheless, customers continued buying the fresh bread.

Do I always need a comma after nevertheless?

When nevertheless begins an independent sentence or clause, you should put a comma immediately after it. If you place it inside a sentence after the subject or between auxiliary verbs, commas are usually optional and often omitted to maintain a smooth sentence flow.

The flight was delayed. Nevertheless, we arrived in time for dinner.

She had little experience but nevertheless managed the project skillfully.

Is there any situation where writing never the less as three words is correct?

You only see never the less as three separate words in rare archaic constructions where each word holds its distinct literal grammatical role, such as comparing quantities. In everyday modern communication, that pattern is obsolete. For any sentence meaning despite that, always use the single word.

His salary was modest; he was nevertheless content with his career.

最後に確認

これを覚えましょう

Write nevertheless as one word and use it for a concessive contrast. The second fact is true despite the first, whether the result is good or bad. A comma normally follows it at the start of a sentence.

ステージ 2 / 5

聞く

実際の文の中で聞いて、聞こえた通りに書き取ります。文は短いものから順に長くなります。

練習する音声を選んでください

0 / 4完了

リスニング 1 / 4 5秒 A traveler describes sleeping soundly in a loud hostel room.

聞いて、聞こえた通りに入力してください。必要なだけ再生できます。

大文字と句読点は採点に影響しません。

リスニング 2 / 4 7秒 A team leader summarizes project success despite early schedule setbacks.

聞いて、聞こえた通りに入力してください。必要なだけ再生できます。

大文字と句読点は採点に影響しません。

もう少し長いクリップに挑戦しましょう。一度聞いて、聞き逃した部分を再生してください。

リスニング 3 / 4 13秒 An office worker explains why a colleague relies on an older desktop printer.

聞いて、聞こえた通りに入力してください。必要なだけ再生できます。

大文字と句読点は採点に影響しません。

このクリップは長めです。解答欄の上の指示に従ってください。

リスニング 4 / 4 25秒 A clinic supervisor describes managing a power outage during a violent thunderstorm.

音声を聞いて、空欄に入る単語を入力してください。それ以外の部分は表示されています。

A storm broke three power lines our clinic yesterday. The main lights went out while doctors were seeing patients in room six. Everyone remained while nurses brought small lamps from our storage The air grew warm and stuffy inside. Nevertheless, our team every patient without sending anyone home.

ステージ 3 / 5

話す

音声に合わせて言ってから、自分の答えの中で使います。

シャドーイング

お手本に合わせて声に出す

音声をゆっくり再生し、お手本に合わせて声に出してみましょう。単語の発音とリズムをまねしてください。

ステージ 4 / 5

書く

自分の言葉で書いてみる

Write an email update to your supervisor explaining a technical difficulty your team faced on Tuesday and showing that you completed the planned system updates anyway. Use nevertheless correctly in a 30 to 50 word message.

AIフィードバック・間違いがある場合があります · メンバーシップ限定 メンバーシップを見る

チェック項目に沿って、書いた文章を見直しましょう。文法や意味の自動採点は行いません。課題ごとの下書きは、このブラウザのタブに保存されます。

ステージ 5 / 5 · メンバーシップ限定

確認

ヒントなしの新しいクリップがあります。

リスニングテストはメンバーシップに含まれています。まず無料のディクテーションを試してから、続けるかどうかを決めてください。

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リスニング 1 / 2 12秒 メンバーシップ限定

リスニング 2 / 2 31秒 メンバーシップ限定

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