Nevertheless vs. Never the Less
“Nevertheless” is the established one-word contrastive adverb. Writing “never the less” as three words does not represent that dictionary headword, though an unrelated literal sequence of the three separate words can occur in other sentence structures.
Use “nevertheless” as one word when you mean “however,” “still,” or “despite what was just said.”
Key details
Further guidance
Core difference
Use one word, “nevertheless,” for the established contrastive adverb meaning “despite what was just said.”
Fast Test
If you could substitute “however,” “still,” or “nonetheless,” write “nevertheless” as one word.
Usage Boundary
A literal sequence of the separate words “never,” “the,” and “less” can occur when syntax genuinely requires those words, but that is not the spelling of the connective adverb.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Nevertheless — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct dictionary evidence for the established one-word adverb “nevertheless,” meaning despite what was just said or referred to.