“Provided that” is a conjunction commonly used in formal writing to set conditions or requirements. When using “provided that,” the writer is establishing a condition that must be fulfilled for something else to happen or be true.

The specific role of “provided that” is to introduce a condition that must be met for a particular outcome or situation to occur. It indicates a specific set of circumstances that need to be satisfied for the rest of the statement to hold true.

Compared to other conjunctions like “if” or “unless,” “provided that” tends to convey a stronger sense of formality and specificity in setting conditions. While “if” and “unless” are more commonly used in everyday language and can be more flexible or informal in tone, “provided that” is preferred in formal writing due to its precise and explicit nature.

In terms of usage, “provided that” is typically employed when outlining terms, establishing prerequisites, or stipulating conditions in a clear and direct manner. Its formal tone and structure make it suitable for legal documents, contracts, academic papers, and other formal contexts where precision and clarity are essential.

Overall, “provided that” stands out in formal writing as a conjunction that distinctly articulates conditions or requirements with a heightened level of formality and specificity compared to other conditional conjunctions like “if” or “unless.”