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However, Nevertheless.../ Be that as it may...
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Sextus  #179392  Thu, 05 Jan 06 06:18 PM
1) I'd like to ask you if, besides being more or less formal, there is an important semantic difference between "however", "nevertheless", and "nonetheless".

2) Is there any difference between "be that as it may" and "however that may be"?

Thanks,

Sextus
  
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davkett  #179441  Thu, 05 Jan 06 08:18 PM

Generally, I personally don't read much semantical difference between them.
  
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MrPedantic  #179521  Fri, 06 Jan 06 12:41 AM

Tricky. "However" seems simply contrastive:

1. Burble burble burble. However, blah blah blah.

i.e. you haven't necessarily decided between burble and blah.

But "be that as it may" seems to suggest that while you accept the validity of the burble, you have plumped for blah:

2. Burble burble burble. Be that as it may, blah blah blah.

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