Big Buts of the Bible

Professor Buttersworth’s first rule for spotting a truly remarkable but.

Always wanting to be helpful (it’s one of my many admirable qualities), I’ve prepared a brief lesson on the proper care and handling of our favorite little conjunction: but. Students! Pay attention!

The first step is to recognize that but is most always used as a conjunction. See this nifty old video for a sing-a-long lesson. All together now—

Conjunction Junction, what’s your function? Hooking up words and phrases and clauses.

Conjunction Junction, how’s that function? I got three favorite cars that get most of my job done.

Conjunction Junction, what’s their function? I got “and”, “but”, and “or”, They’ll get you pretty far. 

Whenever you find a “but,” ask one simple question: “What changed?”

Dr. D. Buttersworth

As a conjunction, but connects words, phrases, clauses and even sentences. It joins; the very root of the word conjunction means “to join together.”

The next step in recognizing but as a conjunction is to ask how it connects or joins the two separate parts. Is it refining? Contrasting? Disagreeing? Clarifying? In other words, ask yourself what but brings to the meaning.

Refine
“I like both dogs, but I prefer the golden retriever.”
The second half doesn’t reject the first—it refines or qualifies it.

Contrast
“The forecast called for sunshine, but it rained all afternoon.”
The second thought contrasts sharply with the first.

Disagreement
“I understand your point, but I see it differently.”
The second clause respectfully disagrees with the first.

Clarification
“She’s not angry, but disappointed.”
The second phrase clarifies what is really meant.

Whenever you find a “but,” ask one simple question: “What changed?” Did the writer refine or qualify what came before? Introduce a contrast? Push back against it? Correct a misunderstanding? 

The answer will tell you what job “but” is doing in the sentence.

Think of but as a little bridge. It always connects two ideas. What changes is the scenery on either side.

Most of the time, a comma belongs before but. Generally speaking, a comma does not belong after but. But, —note the post-but comma?—it is okay to put a comma after your but if you’re trying to communicate inflection or make an artistic impression in your writing. Get it? In that previous sentence, for instance, I wanted you to pause gently after you read but–hence the comma. See how artistic I am?  

This is perhaps the hardest written grammar rule concerning but to wrap your head around, because it’s all about style. Oh, and if this isn’t confusing enough for you, know that it is becoming more and more acceptable to omit the comma altogether where but is concerned. Ah yes… style. Grammar’s favorite loophole. But is an easy word to love. It’s easy like a Monday morning. 

Know also that it is entirely okay to begin a sentence with but. For years Grammarians insisted the opposite, but it’s grown in acceptance. Use but as a conjunctive adverb, like the word ‘however’ to start a sentence. But beware, —-note that I started this sentence with but as a conjunctive adverb—starting too many sentences with the word but and people may start to think you’re just disagreeable. You’re not disagreeable, are you?

One last thing to know is that but can occasionally be used as a preposition. Prepositions, you’ll recall, show relationship and positioning. In, on, over, under, beside, through—you get the idea.  

But is technically a preposition when it is used like the word except. Everyone but Sally understood. Technically speaking… because in effect but still functions in this setting conjunctively too. You have the prepositional relationship and positioning Sally’s on the outside looking in. You also have the conjunctive joining—everyone but Sally. The key to recognizing this really is the word except. If you can substitute except for the but then it’s a prepositional usage. Got it?  Now I ask you: Why would anyone want to substitute anything for their but?

Your assignment: Be on the lookout (and listen) for the word but. See how fast you can identify it in conjunction, conjunctive adverb or prepositional use. See how often you can spot it improperly punctuated. Call it out! Your butdeserves nothing less.