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even so
/ˈiːvən soʊ/
despite that
The weather was terrible; even so, we decided to go hiking.
Despite the bad weather, we still chose to go hiking.
formal
despite what has just been mentioned
She was tired, but even so, she stayed up late to finish her work.
Despite being tired, she worked late.
The plan seemed risky; even so, they approved it.
They approved the risky plan anyway.
Used to introduce a contrast with a previously mentioned fact. Similar to 'nevertheless' or 'all the same', but slightly more formal.
Collocations
even so muchused for emphasis in contrastseven so littleused to highlight minimal effort or impact
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing
While 'even so' is useful, it can sound stiff in casual conversation. Prefer 'but' or 'still' in informal contexts.
Gold Rule
Position matters
'Even so' typically starts a new clause or sentence to introduce a contrast. It is not used mid-clause without punctuation (e.g., '..., even so, ...' is acceptable; '*even so we went' is not).
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'even' (from Old English 'efne', meaning 'exactly' or 'just') with 'so' (from Old English 'swā', meaning 'in this way'). The adversative sense emerged in Middle English, evolving from literal spatial contrasts to abstract logical contrasts.
Usage Notes
1. Always used at the beginning of a clause or sentence to introduce a contrast. 2. More formal than 'but' or 'however'. 3. Often follows a comma when used mid-sentence (e.g., '..., even so, ...').
Word Breakdown
even
used to emphasize contrast or concession
adverbso
referring to the previously mentioned situation
adverbEnglish Dictionary