Even More Than That, or at Least This Much はおろか・といわず・にもまして・ないまでも

Connect a purpose with the effort behind it, or concede a point before giving the main claim. These patterns help organize a complex argument: a writer may grant a point, describe a purpose, or connect an action with its intended result. Find the main claim after the concession before deciding the overall direction.

Patterns in this lesson

• はおろか — Let alone, Much less, Needless to say, Not to mention, Not only but also
• といわず — Not only A or B but every-; A, B and every-; Not only A or B but all over; A, B both, whether A or B
• にもまして — Even -er than, Even more than, More than anything, More than anybody, More than ever
• 次第です — Because the reason is, Therefore, The present situation is like this, This is how (it is), Those are the circumstances, This is why
• というところ — I would say (about), I guess (about), It could be said that, About, At best
• １～たりとも～ない — Not even one, Not a single, No (at all)
• ときたら — When it comes to, That or this … of mine, That or this darn …, That or this blasted …
• びる — -like, Looking, Feeling, With an air of, To become
• にしたところで — Even, Even for, Even from the perspective of, Even in the case of
• に即して — In line with, Based on, In accordance with
• ないまでも — May not … but (at least), Even though not, Even if not
• をよそに — Ignoring, Disregarding, Despite
• まじき — Unbecoming of, Unworthy of, Not proper for, Should not, Must not, Cannot

とはいえ acknowledges the cost but keeps the recommendation as the main claim. It is a concession, not a reversal.

In an opinion piece, mark the concession separately from the writer’s conclusion; the main point often follows it.

Vocabulary