But links two ideas that contrast or, after words like everyone and nothing, means except. In the first meaning: The course is hard, but useful. In the second, after everyone, nobody, all or nothing, it leaves something out: Nobody but Anna knew means nobody except Anna knew. That's where the last but one comes from: the penultimate, literally “the last, not counting one”.
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clause, but + clause; not X but Y; everyone/nothing/all + but + noun (= except); the last but one
- The flat is small, but it's close to the station and the rent is reasonable.
- We wanted to stay longer, but our flight was at six in the morning.
- Everyone but Max has sent in their report for this month.
What changed
First versionAlthough the hotel was cheap, but the rooms were clean and quiet.
RevisionAlthough the hotel was cheap, the rooms were clean and quiet.
It's tempting to mark the contrast twice, with although at the start and but in the middle. In English, although and but don't go together: one word already expresses the contrast. But was removed, and the comma after the first part stayed.
In an essay, but works fine inside a sentence, after a comma. Starting a new sentence with But in academic writing isn't a good idea: it sounds conversational. Use However with a comma instead: Public transport is cheap. However, it is often overcrowded.
Your turn
The museum is free on Sundays, ___ you still need to book a ticket online.
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but — Two parts of one sentence need linking, and that's the job of but. However can't link them like that: it needs a full stop or semicolon before it and a comma after it. The museum is free on Sundays; however, you still need… would be correct, but not with just a comma.
Describe a place you've been to recently: a café, a hotel or a city. Name one good thing and, with but, one bad thing.
The café near my office has great coffee, but it's always too crowded at lunchtime.
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