What is the difference between "yet" and "still"?

Question

Could someone please let me know which of the following words might be in line with the sentence - "yet" or "still". Furthermore, I cannot distinguish the difference between "yet" and "still", though I read some articles about it. Therefore, I would really appreciate it if someone could explain that in Layman's terms.

Furthermore, in the majority of countries around the world, yet / still the main source or power is fossil fuel.

GPY · Accepted Answer

I'm not sure how much I can add to the explanations that you will find if you Google difference between yet and still. In negative clauses (including grammatically positive clauses with negative intention), "yet" and "still" have broadly similar meanings. Something hasn't happened up until now, but it may/will happen in the future, often with the connotation that the thing is overdue, waited for, expected, etc.

For example: "the train hasn't arrived yet" / "the train still hasn't arrived"
For example: "I've yet to visit London" / "I'm still to visit London"

There may be differences in nuance (e.g. "still" can feel stronger), and note also that the words may be used in different positions or different ways within the sentence.

In ordinary modern English, adverb "yet" is not commonly used in positive clauses. There are certain exceptions, but as far as your sentence is concerned, this "rule" is enough to tell you that "yet" is not correct. It should be:

Furthermore, in the majority of countries around the world, the main source of power is still fossil fuel.

"still" in your position, after the comma, is not impossible, but it has a stylistic feel that may not suit your context.

There is another type of "yet", a conjunction. It has a contrastive purpose. For example:

Solar and wind farms have been built, yet the main source of power is still fossil fuel.

This "yet" is mostly used in written English and can sound formal or literary.

CalifJim · Answer

dileepaFurthermore, in the majority of countries around the world, yet / still the main source or power is fossil fuel.

You have 'yet' and 'still' in the wrong place in the sentence. You need is still ~ continues to be.

This tax option [will still be / will continue to be] available in 2021.
While the bread [is still / continues to be] hot, rub the top with a garlic cloves.
Her home was swept away in the tsunami, and her cousin [was still / continued to be] unaccounted for.

Thus: The main source of power [is still / continues to be] fossil fuel.

Note: I am not advising you to substitute paraphrases with 'continue' for 'still'. Such substitutions may be stylistically inferior. I am only presenting them here as a way for you to get a feel for the meaning of 'still'.

CJ

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