[Grammar] the difference between( but for & without)

[desperado774]

Dear supervisor
what are the grammatical difference between without and but for? I searched lots for grammar books in the chapter of conditional / omitting (if) but they didn't provide in any explanations to when to choose either of the two words.
Q. (Without – but for – according to) the storm, I would have been home before eight.
I can't decide on that example which one is correct or both are used alternatively. Really,I'm not familiar with the differences.
Thanks in Advance

 

[Yankee]

Dear supervisor
what are the grammatical difference between without and but for? I searched lots for grammar books in the chapter of conditional / omitting (if) but they didn't provide in any explanations to when to choose either of the two words.
Q. (Without – but for – according to) the storm, I would have been home before eight.
I can't decide on that example which one is correct or both are used alternatively. Really,I'm not familiar with the differences.
Thanks in Advance

My shot for the context provided: "Without"= if there had not been a storm. "But for" = because of the storm and for no other reason. "According to" doesn't work.

 

[teechar]

Dear supervisor

We don't have supervisors here! In future, just ask your question. You don't need to write a greeting or an introduction.

What are the grammatical differences between "without" and "but for"? I searched lots [STRIKE]for[/STRIKE] of grammar books, [STRIKE]in[/STRIKE] especially the chapter [STRIKE]of[/STRIKE] on conditionals/omitting (if), but they didn't provide [STRIKE]in[/STRIKE] any explanations [STRIKE]to[/STRIKE] about when to choose either. [STRIKE]of the two words.[/STRIKE]

Q. (Without – but for – according to) the storm, I would have been home before eight.
I can't decide on that example which one is correct or are both [STRIKE]are[/STRIKE] used alternatively. Really, I'm not familiar with the differences.
Thanks in Advance.

Here are some examples which may help you:

According to the police, the man arrested had a loaded gun. [According to X = that's what X said/stated]
According to local customs, a banquet was prepared for the visitors. [According to = in line with]
Without that GPS, we would have never found our way. [Without = with no help from]
But for the bus strike, we would not have been late for the concert. [But for X = if it was not because of X]

Now, do you know which is the right choice for the question you posted?

 

[desperado774]

Thanks a lot for correcting my typos .According to your reply I can say that but for is the correct answer,But can you put your reply into a general rule to help for a better understanding? ,as some grammar books represent both conjunctions alternatively -but for/without+noun/v+ING).

 

[teechar]

Thanks a lot for correcting my typos. According to your reply, [STRIKE]I can say that[/STRIKE] "but for" is the correct answer, but can you put your reply into a general rule to help [STRIKE]for a[/STRIKE] me understand it? [STRIKE]better understanding?,as[/STRIKE] That's because some grammar books [STRIKE]represent[/STRIKE] say both [STRIKE]conjunctions alternatively[/STRIKE] work -but for/without+noun/v+ING).

I don't think abstracting the above into a cumbersome rule would help. However, I found the following link which may be of use to you.

https://www.grammaring.com/if-even-...unless-but-for-if-necessary-if-so-in-case-etc