However v. Nevertheless

However and nevertheless are often synonymous, but not always. “However” can always be used in place of “nevertheless,” but “nevertheless” cannot always replace “however.”




Both words draw a contrast, but “however” merely points out the contrast; “nevertheless,” conveys the added idea that the contrast is surprising. “Nevertheless” means “despite that.”


1a) The full-sized van carries more passengers than the mini-van. 
1b) However, the mini-van gets better gas mileage. 

2a) The full-sized van carries more passengers than the mini-van. 
2b) Nevertheless, the full-sized van gets better mileage.

Both pairs of sentences draw contrasts between the full-sized van and the minivan, but the first contrast is expected. There is nothing surprising about the smaller vehicle getting better mileage than a bigger one. Only "however" is proper here. “Nevertheless” would not make sense.

In the the second pair of sentences, the contrast is surprising. Despite the fact that the full-sized van is bigger than the minivan--i.e., it holds more people--it also gets better mileage.  Either “however” or “nevertheless” would be proper here.


I don’t recall the ACT ever requiring the student to choose between “however” and “nevertheless,” but the SAT did so on Practice Test 2.

It has long been known that the sea otters living along the West Coast of North America help keep kelp forests in their habitat healthy and vital. They do this by feeding on sea urchins and other herbivorous invertebrates that graze voraciously on kelp. With sea otters to keep the population of sea urchins in check, kelp forests can flourish. In fact, even two years or less of sea otter presence can reduce the sea urchin threat in a coastal area Without sea otters present, nevertheless, kelp forests run the danger of becoming barren stretches of coastal wasteland known as urchin barrens.

25                                                                                                                                                

A) NO CHANGE
B) however,
C) hence,
D) likewise,

Here there is nothing surprising about what happens when there are no sea otters, so "nevertheless" is inappropriate.

Of course, the College Board's explanation is not particularly helpful:

Choice B is the best answer because the conjunctive adverb "however” accurately communicates the contrast between an environment shaped by the presence of sea otters, described in the preceding sentence, and an environment shaped by the absence of sea otters, described in this sentence.
Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because each presents a conjunctive adverb that does not accurately depict the relationship between the preceding sentence and the sentence with the underlined word.

In other words, "nevertheless" is wrong because it's not right.