Any alternative to "on the one hand, on the other hand"

Question

I'm writing a formal academic article to introduce some facts. For example:

On the one hand, the government would like more energy, but on the other hand, it is not prepared to find more extra investments in order to get it.

However, I think the idiom on the one hand...on the other hand is somewhat informal. Are there any, more formal alternative to this idiom, that would fit in the provided context?

Answer 1

The discourse marker, or sentence connector used by the OP; "on the one hand ... on the other hand" expresses two contrasting ideas, opinions or facts. It is a perfectly acceptable expression in formal papers; however, there is nothing to prevent it from being shortened to “on the other hand”.

Nevertheless, I suggest the following alternatives:

• The government would like more energy, on the other hand it is not prepared to find more investments in order to obtain it

• Although the government would like more energy, it is not prepared . . .

• The government would like more energy; however, it is not prepared . . .

• The government would like more energy, although it is not prepared . . .

• Despite the fact the government would like more energy, it is not prepared . . .

• Even though the government would like more energy, it is not prepared . . .

• The government would like more energy. Yet it is not prepared . . .

Transitional Words and Phrases
Contrast
•yet •and yet •nevertheless •nonetheless •after all •but •however •though •otherwise •on the contrary •in contrast •notwithstanding •on the other hand •at the same time

^{Source: The Writing Centre, UW-Madison}