Explaining difficult family dynamics or seeking emotional support [27].
Discussing burnout, early retirement plans, or job transitions [24, 30]. 2. The Grammar Guide: Rules and "Rules"
Long posts often suggest alternatives to avoid overusing "but" [7, 8, 15]: The Grammar Guide: Rules and "Rules" Long posts
"But" isn't always a conjunction; it also functions as a preposition meaning "except." For example: "Everyone me has paid" [3]. In these cases, it typically does not require commas [5]. 4. Technical and Niche Uses
Only use a comma after "but" if it is followed by an "interrupter"—a non-essential phrase like "of course" or "in my opinion" [6, 10]. Technical and Niche Uses Only use a comma
Use a comma before "but" when it connects two independent clauses (complete sentences) [1, 9].
On platforms like Reddit and Facebook, users frequently start their writing with the phrase [24]. This serves as a social convention to manage reader expectations when sharing complex personal situations, such as: 3. Usage as "Except"
However , Nevertheless , Nonetheless , Notwithstanding . Casual: Though (at the end of a sentence), Still , Yet . Contrastive: In contrast , On the other hand , Conversely . 3. Usage as "Except"