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539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Condition | 753

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Supposing

and assuming do not impose conditions:

This article may be distributed 

if our logo is shown.

(or: 

provided that our logo is shown.)

(or: 

on condition that our logo is shown.)

(or: 

as (so) long as our logo is shown.)

(but not: 

supposing/assuming our logo is shown.)

But for 

But for 

is a fixed expression meaning ‘if it were not for’. It is used in more formal

contexts and is followed by a noun phrase:

But for 

Sunita

, we’d all have got lost ages ago. 

He would have gone to university 

but for

the fact that

his parents were poor

and couldn’t afford it.

(He would have gone to university but for (that) his parents were poor and

could not afford it.)

Otherwise

Otherwise

can be used to express an outcome which is likely if a condition is not

met. It may introduce the clause which indicates the outcome or, especially in

informal spoken language, it may come in end position:

I won’t tell Brenda, 

otherwise she’ll be furious.

(If I tell Brenda, she’ll be furious.)

Take the umbrella. You’ll get soaked 

otherwise.

(If you do not take the umbrella, you’ll get soaked.)