then again

Question

Could you please answer my questions?Should I use "and" before "then again"? Is it common to use "and"? Why?I like to travel but, then again, I'm very fond of my home. Where is the best place to use "then again". It is used when we have had a new thought that is different or opposite to what we have just said. Right?Is it formal enough?I think it is exact synonym of "however". Am I right?Thanks for you time.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

I like to travel but, then again, I'm very fond of my home.

Should I use "and" before "then again"?-- It is unnecessary.
Is it common to use "and"? --Yes, I suppose both are common. Why?-- Why not?
Where is the best place to use "then again". It is used when we have had a new thought that is different or opposite to what we have just said. Right?-- Right, or any time that we wish to present the opposing view also.
Is it formal enough?-- Yes.
I think it is exact synonym of "however". Am I right?-- No two synonyms are exact, especially syntactically.

USF · Answer

Thanks.

You have been very helpful and I am grateful.

Mister MicawberIs it common to use "and"? --Yes, I suppose both are common. Why?-- Why not?

OK. But I think with "and" it is informal.

Mister MicawberI think it is exact synonym of "however". Am I right?-- No two synonyms are exact, especially syntactically.

Why? In "however" we are making sort of a contrast too.
Could you please explain what differences do these sentences have?
I like to travel but, then again, I'm very fond of my home. ~ I like to travel but, however, I'm very fond of my home.

Mister Micawber · Answer

But I think with "and" it is informal.-- I don't think that 'and' changes the register.
In "however" we are making sort of a contrast too.-- 'Sort of' does not suggest synonymy!

Could you please explain what differences these sentences have?
I like to travel but, then again, I'm very fond of my home. ~ I like to travel but, however, I'm very fond of my home.-- For one thing, 'but however' contains redundancy, so one of those words should be omitted.

USF · Answer

Mister MicawberI like to travel but, then again, I'm very fond of my home. ~ I like to travel but, however, I'm very fond of my home.-- For one thing, 'but however' contains redundancy, so one of those words should be omitted.

I omitted "but" in both of these sentences:
I like to travel , then again, I'm very fond of my home. ~ I like to travel , however, I'm very fond of my home.

What about those? Do they have the same meanings? Or what? (Is it polite to use "Or what" like this? In conversation it can bear offensive expression. Right? But what about now? In this context.)

Thanks.

Regards · Answer

Hi,

youzou Could you please answer my questions?

Yes. By the way, it is nice to see a polite request like yours.

youzouI like to travel but, then again, I'm very fond of my home.

The idiom you are talking about is but then / then again / but then again, so any of these sounds reasonable:

I like to travel, but then I'm very fond of my home.

I like to travel; then again, I'm very fond of my home.

I like to travel, but then again, I'm very fond of my home.

In my opinion, your sentence would have been even better if you had added a lot:

I like to travel a lot, but then I'm very fond of my home.

See the contrast?

youzou Should I use "and" before "then again"? Is it common to use "and"?

Personally, I use but before then / then again, but then again (

), maybe it is only me. Yet, I think it is less

common to use and with this idiom.

youzou It is used when we have a new thought that is different or opposite to what we have just said. Right?

Yes, your reasoning sounds OK.

youzou Is it formal enough?

No, it is not a formal idiom. Frankly, it is usually used in everyday English.

youzou I think it is exact synonym of "however". Am I right?

Unfortunately, in this case you are wrong: they are not synonymous, so don't use them interchangeably.

Regards

USF · Answer

Thanks for your reply and kindness.

I like to travel a lot, but then I'm very fond of my home.

RegardsSee the contrast?

Actually, no. Did you want to make contrast more explicit?

I see hesitation in here: (it would be more with "would" before "like")
I like to travel but,(comma in here) then again, I'm very fond of my home.

Whereas in here:
I like to travel a lot, but then I'm very fond of my home.
I see contrast in emotions.

What would you think? Could you please explain it for me?

And could you tell me which one is more common? And for which situation?

but then
then again

Regards · Answer

Hi,

youzouI omitted "but" in both of these sentences: I like to travel, then again, I'm very fond of my home. ~ I like to travel, however, I'm very fond of my home. What about those? Do they have the same meaning?

I think the punctuation you used in both of your sentences is incorrect.

Those sentences should read:

I like to travel; then again, I'm very fond of my home. (Or an em-dash [—] instead of the semicolon in bold

in more informal usage).

I like to travel; however, I'm very fond of my home. Or: I like to travel. However, I'm very fond of my home.

It seems to me that you are trying to substitute then again for however, but as MM and I already pointed out,

you can't use them interchangeably in any case you want to.

Let's just say that then again is closer in its meaning to on the other hand.

youzou Or what? (Is it polite to use "Or what" like this? In conversation it can bear offensive expression. Right? But what about now?

It is somewhat informal, but we all speak informally on the forum, I think, so I don't find it offensive.

I would avoid using it in polite company, though.

Regards

USF · Answer

Thanks.

I think I have figured out how to use "then again", but then again (

), I hesitate to use. I think I should practice more.

Regards · Answer

Hi,

youzouI think I should practice more.

Sounds like a good idea. Good luck, anyway!

Regards

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