to say nothing of

USAGE SUMMARY

"to say nothing of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that there's more to say about something than what you're mentioning. For example: "The office was a mess, to say nothing of the muddy footprints left by the guests."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To say nothing of ingenuity.

The New York Times

To say nothing of profits.

The New York Times - Arts

(To say nothing of the spitballers).

The New York Times

To say nothing of lucrative.

The New York Times - Arts

To say nothing of crime and corruption.

The New York Times

To say nothing of Dickens and Shakespeare.

The New York Times - Travel

"To say nothing of my Midlands engine.

The Guardian

To say nothing of his wife..

The Guardian - Books

To say nothing of occupational hazards.

The New York Times

To say nothing of wrecking our lives in the process.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

To say nothing of going without a helmet.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ this phrase when you want to introduce additional information that strengthens your argument or provides further context.

Common error

Avoid using "to say nothing of" when simply adding a related detail without intending to emphasize its significance. Ensure the added element is indeed noteworthy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to say nothing of" functions as a transitional expression, used to introduce an additional point or detail that is often more significant or obvious than what was previously mentioned. It adds emphasis and implies that there is more to be considered, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

13%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to say nothing of" is a versatile phrase used to introduce an additional, often more significant, point. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media, and academic contexts. When writing, remember to use it to add emphasis to your statements. While alternatives like "not to mention" and "let alone" exist, "to say nothing of" provides a slightly more formal and emphatic tone. The examples provided by Ludwig, together with the fact that is very frequent in authoritative sources, demonstrate the phrase's usefulness in various writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not to mention

Focuses directly on what's being added, similar to the original phrase's effect.

let alone

Implies that the additional element is even less likely or possible than the first.

on top of that

Emphasizes the accumulation of elements or issues.

besides that

Simply adds another element to consider, without necessarily emphasizing its importance.

furthermore

Adds more information in a formal tone, suitable for business or academic writing.

moreover

Introduces an additional point that supports the previous statement.

in addition to that

Adds information, but with a slightly more formal or emphatic tone.

over and above that

Highlights that something is added beyond what is already present or expected.

to boot

Adds something extra, often unexpectedly or surprisingly.

as well

Indicates an inclusion, in the same way or to the same extent.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "to say nothing of" in a sentence?

Use "to say nothing of" to introduce an additional point that is even more significant or obvious than the first. For example, "The project was poorly planned, to say nothing of its disastrous execution."

What are some alternatives to "to say nothing of"?

You can use alternatives like "not to mention", "let alone", or "besides that" to introduce additional information.

Is there a difference in formality between "to say nothing of" and "not to mention"?

"To say nothing of" is generally considered slightly more formal than "not to mention", but both are suitable for most writing contexts. The best choice depends on the overall tone and style of your piece.

Can "to say nothing of" be used to introduce negative consequences?

Yes, "to say nothing of" can effectively introduce negative consequences or problems. For example, "The storm caused widespread damage, to say nothing of the power outages."