What Does "as far as i’m concerned" Mean?
- Grammatical function: This expression serves as a discourse marker or parenthetical phrase used to indicate a personal opinion, perspective, or a firm stance on a matter. It effectively limits the scope of a statement to the speaker's own judgment.
- Typical sentence position: It is highly flexible and can appear in the initial, medial, or final position of a sentence.
- Register: It is generally neutral to informal. While it appears in journalism and speech, it is often too subjective for strictly formal academic or technical writing.
How to Use It
- Syntactic patterns: When starting a sentence, it is followed by a comma and a full independent clause. When used mid-sentence or at the end, it functions as a parenthetical remark.
- Punctuation rules: In the initial position, always follow the phrase with a comma. In the medial position, it should be offset by commas on both sides. In the final position, precede it with a comma.
- Grammatical flexibility: The phrase can be modified by changing the pronoun (e.g., "as far as he is concerned") to reflect different perspectives. It cannot be negated directly (e.g., "not as far as I'm concerned" is a response, not a modification of the phrase itself).
- What sounds unnatural: Using it to describe objective facts (e.g., "As far as I'm concerned, the sun is a star") sounds redundant or strange, as the phrase is intended for subjective interpretations or personal conclusions.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from as far as i’m concerned on Ludwig.guru.
"As far as I'm concerned, that's graffiti." — nytimes.com
"It's over as far as I'm concerned"." — nytimes.com
"As far as I'm concerned, that's irrelevant." — theguardian.com
"As far as I'm concerned it's showbusiness." — theguardian.com
"You merely don't exist, as far as I'm concerned"." — newyorker.com
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| in my opinion |
The most common neutral alternative for expressing a personal view. |
| from my perspective |
Slightly more formal; emphasizes the specific angle from which one is looking at a situation. |
| to my mind |
A more literary or British English variation of expressing an opinion. |
| as I see it |
Informal and conversational; suggests a personal interpretation of facts. |
| personally |
A concise adverb used to signal that the following statement is a private view. |
Common Mistakes
- Missing Punctuation: Forgetting to set the phrase off with commas, especially when it starts a sentence, which can lead to run-on thoughts.
- Overuse in Formal Writing: Using it in academic papers where objective evidence is required rather than personal feelings.
- Confusion with 'as long as': Learners often confuse it with 'as long as,' which expresses a condition or duration rather than a personal viewpoint.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| as far as i’m concerned |
Expresses personal opinion/stance |
Neutral to Informal |
Initial, Medial, or Final |
FAQs
Where can I place as far as i’m concerned in a sentence
The expression as far as i’m concerned is highly versatile and can appear at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence. When placed at the start, it sets the tone for the entire statement, while placing it at the end often acts as a definitive concluding thought.
How does it differ from the phrase in my opinion
While both express a personal view, as far as i’m concerned often carries a stronger, more assertive or even defiant tone. It suggests that the speaker's mind is made up regardless of what others think, whereas in my opinion is a more standard way to introduce a thought.
Why shouldn't I use as long as when I mean as far as i'm concerned
Learners often confuse it with as long as, which expresses a condition or duration rather than a personal viewpoint. For example, "as long as I'm here" refers to the time spent in a location, while as far as i’m concerned introduces your specific judgment or belief.