por outro lado

On the Other Hand

Level 5

Use por outro lado to present a second point of view, similar to the English 'on the other hand'. It is a high-frequency tool for balanced analysis.

How It Works

The expression por outro lado (literally 'by [the] other side') is a versatile discourse marker used in both formal writing and everyday speech.

1. Usage and Punctuation
It functions as a parenthetical phrase. In formal writing, it should be set off by commas if it appears in the middle of a sentence, or followed by a comma if it starts a new sentence. Unlike the English word 'though', por outro lado is rarely placed at the very end of a sentence in Portuguese.

2. The Correlative Pair
It is frequently paired with por um lado (on the one hand) to structure a two-part comparison or analysis. However, it is perfectly natural to use por outro lado alone to pivot from a previously established context. A common idiomatic variation for this concept is o outro lado da moeda (the other side of the coin).

3. Nuance vs. Other Connectors
Unlike mas or porém, which often signal a direct contradiction, por outro lado suggests a 'balance'. It is less aggressive than pelo contrário (on the contrary), which is used for direct refutation. It is also broader than no entanto, which focuses more on the contrast than the alternative perspective.

Examples (4)

  1. O carro é muito rápido; por outro lado, consome muito combustível.

    The car is very fast; on the other hand, it consumes a lot of fuel.

    Word by Word: The car is very fast; by other side, consumes much fuel.

    Here, the connector introduces a negative aspect that balances the positive one mentioned first.

  2. Por um lado, gosto do meu emprego; por outro lado, o salário é baixo.

    On the one hand, I like my job; on the other hand, the salary is low.

    Word by Word: By one side, I like of my job; by other side, the salary is low.

    This shows the classic correlative structure used to weigh two different factors.

  3. A cidade é linda. Por outro lado, o custo de vida é altíssimo.

    The city is beautiful. On the other hand, the cost of living is very high.

    Word by Word: The city is beautiful. By other side, the cost of life is very high.

    Starting a new sentence with the connector to provide a contrasting reality.

  4. Ela é muito inteligente, mas, por outro lado, falta-lhe experiência.

    She is very intelligent, but, on the other hand, she lacks experience.

    Word by Word: She is very intelligent, but, by other side, lacks-to-her experience.

    Notice the use of commas to isolate the connector when it is inserted mid-clause.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a comma splice to join two independent sentences.

    Ele é trabalhador, por outro lado é muito desorganizado.
    Ele é trabalhador; por outro lado, é muito desorganizado.

    In Portuguese, 'por outro lado' is a connector that usually requires a semicolon or a full stop before it to avoid a comma splice.

  • Using it for simple addition instead of contrast.

    Ele fala inglês e, por outro lado, fala francês.
    Ele fala inglês e, além disso, fala francês.

    If the second point simply adds more information without contrast, use 'além disso' (furthermore) instead.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

por outro ladoLevel 5On the Other Hand

Learn This First

To understand 'por outro lado', learners need to be familiar with the preposition 'por' and the noun 'lado' (side). It also requires a basic grasp of how to express contrast in Portuguese using simpler conjunctions before moving to this multi-word connector.

Words in This Pattern

por outro lado