Meaning
Used to clarify that one explanation is less accurate or important than another, emphasizing the true cause.
Primary Function
Nuanced correction / clarification of reasons.
Communicative Purpose
To correct a misunderstanding about motivation or causality.
Pattern
It's not so much that; as that
Core Structure
It's not so much that; as that
Função primária
Nuanced correction / clarification of reasons.
Propósito comunicativo
To correct a misunderstanding about motivation or causality.
Situações de gatilho
Explaining complex feelings, analyzing situations.
Contextos
Analytical discussions, reflective talk.
Padrão
It's not so much that; as that
Estrutura central
It's not so much that; as that
Slots de substituição
The rejected reason (X) and the true reason (Y).
Colocados típicos
- that… as that…
Substituições comuns
- It's more that… than that…
- Not because X but because Y
Erros comuns
Forgetting the second "that" in formal writing; e.g., "It's not so much that he's lazy, as he's tired" – should be "as that he's tired."
Similar / contraste
Not X but Y, Less X than Y
Interferências
The correlative structure "not so much … as" requires parallelism.
Família do chunk
- Not so much X as Y (simple version)
- Less X than Y
Nuance
High precision in attributing cause; intellectual.
Efeito pragmático
Signals careful, nuanced thinking.
Dica de memória
Nuanced causation
Nota
Nuanced causation
Upgrade path
It's less a matter of X than a matter of Y
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