Insofar as

Insofar as
 

I use the phrase "In so far as" almost daily in my normal speech without even thinking about it, but I was stunned when a friend of mine pointed out to me how no one else in my circle of acquantainces uses it. What's more, I'm not even sure where I picked up the phrase. I've used it as long as I can remember.

An example of it in my speech would be something like: "But they should provide water for the pygmy lands, insofar as family ties are not cut." That's one way I use it. But I also use it in another way:

For example: "The metal bars run insofar as the side of the ventilation system."

Or it can be used in this way: "I don't know, Insofar as you say."

I know this is a little tricky to translate into spanish. But what's the use of asking for help if you can simply do it easily with google translate, right? Sorry, I guess I might be working you guys a little bit too hard. But I'd really, really like to know if there's a way to at least approximate this in spanish? Pweease? :o

Te ruego por su ayuda. *bows* :D

insofar as =
en lo que
en el grado que
en la medida que

The phrase means 'to the degree that' or 'to the extent that'.
I would use en el grado que or en la medida que in either your first or your last sentence.

Your second sentence sounds strange to me. I would say 'the entire length of the ventilation system, on the side', instead.

Ah. ok. Thanks rusty!

Just for the record, I use it and find nothing strange about it. :rolleyes:

Is it a synonym of insomuch as ?

Creo que sí.