Contrast and emphasis

In the excerpt from Machine Man, Max Berry builds contrast using the but:

Berry communicates contrast between discomfort and dependance on the devise. Let us look at two features of advanced English writing: contrast and emphasis.

CONTRAST

Contrast markers connect two opposing ideas in order to highlight a difference or challenge expectations. Contrast markers (also called contrastive connectors) show opposition or contradiction. These include:

• far from X, Y
• rather than
• not X but Y
• whereas 
• but
• however

Examples:

• Far from improving efficiency, the update slowed production down.
• Rather than relying on manual calculations, the surgeon used software.
• The issue was not the program but the procedure.
• The robot performs repetitive tasks, whereas humans adapt to unexpected situations.
• The surgical robot is precise, but it is expensive.
• The device is powerful. However, it remains inconsistent.

EMPHASIS THROUGH INVERSION 

One way to create dramatic emphasis is through inversion. Inversion changes the usual word order by placing the auxiliary verb before the suject. This often occurs after negatie asverbs at the beginning of the sentence. 

Structure: 

Negative adverb + auxiliary verb + subject  + main verb

Negative adverbs commonly used:

• rarely
• never
• only then
• only after
• seldom 

Look at the following examples:

• Normal order:

I have rarely seen such precision.

With inversion: 

Rarely have I seen such precision.

• Normal order:

The team had never before tested this scenario.

With inversion: 

Never before had the team tested this scenario.

• Normal order:

They only realized the implications then.

With inversion: 

Only then did they realize the implications.

• Normal order:

The doctor only trusted the results after several tests.

With inversion: 

Only after several tests did the doctor trust the results.

• Normal order:

A technology seldom transforms a field so fast.

With inversion:

Seldom does a technology transform a field so fast.