at least again

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at least again" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a situation that has occurred previously and is happening once more, often with a sense of relief or acceptance. Example: "I didn't win the lottery, but at least again, I have my health and my family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Now the same countries were espousing inspections they had once deemed no longer necessary, in a way that, to American eyes at least, again hindered proper enforcement of Iraq's obligation to disarm.Yet Mr Blix is clear about the main reason why military preparations eventually outpaced fraught diplomacy Iraq's own obduracy.

The Economist

Thomas Rosica, who is very much involved with the popular Catholic media in Canada, took it upon himself to correct what he thought was a mistaken impression given by the press regarding the pope's words, and instead, seems to have ended up giving the impression -- at least again as interpreted by the press -- that he was saying the pope was wrong and that atheists are destined for hell.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Failing that, it can at least, once again, change society.

The Economist

Thanks for making everyone feel, for a little while at least, young again.

Independent

But for a day, at least, greed again trumped fear in the stock market.

The New York Times

That was a good 40 feet at least; yet again the US can bemoan bad luck on the greens.

The Guardian - Sport

The job of economists should be to make a top rate tax level of 80% at least "thinkable" again.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mark Carney (pictured), its governor, promised to leave rates low until unemployment was down to at least 7%—again, so long as inflation and financial markets remained well behaved.

The Economist

"We'll at least look again at how we can bring in trained volunteers to supplement some of our work.

BBC

Ed Miliband visited on Wednesday for the first time and plans to come at least once again.

BBC

Be ready to spend at least that again on film over the years, though.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at least again" to convey a sense of relief or acceptance that something is happening once more, especially after a period of absence or uncertainty. It acknowledges a recurrence while often implying a minimal expectation.

Common error

Avoid using "at least again" when referring to something that is happening for the first time. This phrase is specifically for recurrent events. Instead, use phrases like "at least for now" or "at the very least".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at least again" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or clause to indicate a recurrence of an event, often with a sense of mitigation or acceptance. This is supported by the Ludwig examples that show it used to qualify a situation that is happening once more.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at least again" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate the recurrence of an event, often with a sense of acceptance or minimal expectation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts, predominantly in news and media, and occasionally in wiki-style content. While not exceedingly common, it effectively conveys a sense of something happening one more time, especially after a period of absence or uncertainty. Be mindful of using it only when referring to events that have occurred previously, and consider alternatives like "at least once more" when emphasizing frequency. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the very least once more

Emphasizes the minimum requirement of something happening one more time. This alternative adds an element of necessity.

at the bare minimum, a second time

Stresses the absolute lowest level of expectation for a repeated occurrence, which emphasizes a minimal standard.

if nothing else, once again

Highlights a fallback scenario where, even if other things fail, something will happen again. It is a bit more emphatic.

at a minimum, repeatedly

Focuses on the minimum frequency of a repeated action, which is a subtle shift from the original phrase.

as a last resort, once more

Suggests that the action is being repeated because other options have failed and this is the final effort.

in any event, anew

Highlights that regardless of circumstances something is starting or happening again from the beginning. Adds a sense of renewal.

even if only, repeatedly

Emphasizes the exclusivity of the repeated action, even if other things do not occur. Adds an element of conditionality.

should all else fail, once again

Implies that the repeated action is a contingency plan in case of failure, which is a conditional emphasis.

come what may, anew

Highlights that even if the circumstances are not optimal something is happening again. Adds a sense of determination.

at worst, repeatedly

Emphasizes that even if the outcome is not positive, the action is being repeated which adds a negative tone.

FAQs

How can I use "at least again" in a sentence?

Use "at least again" to indicate that something is happening once more, often after a period of absence or uncertainty. For example, "I didn't win the lottery, but "at least again", I have my health and my family".

What does "at least again" imply in a conversation?

It generally implies a recurrence of an event or situation, often with a sense of mitigation or acceptance. It can also suggest a minimal expectation.

Are there situations where "at least again" would not be appropriate?

Yes, it's not appropriate when referring to something happening for the very first time. In such cases, phrases like "at least for now" or "at the very least" would be more fitting.

What's the difference between "at least again" and "at least once more"?

"At least again" emphasizes the recurrence of an event, while "at least once more" highlights the minimum frequency with which something should happen again.