Colleen Williams on Los Angeles’ local KNBC Channel 4 News reported that a woman in Riverside County had been struck by lightning. Williams said, “…she (the victim) experienced moderate injuries, but she is expected to survive.”

Williams should have said, “and” she is expected to survive.

“But” changes the meaning to: “although” something happened, an expected thing did not happen. The phrase “moderate injuries” indicates we should expect the woman to survive.

“Lighting struck the woman, but she is expected to survive” suffices. The introduction of the word “moderate” alters the meaning.

Tags: although, and, but, coordinating conjunctions, lightening, meaning