Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
You use ~ after stating a situation or fact, in order to say what the result or consequence would be if this situation or fact was not the case.
Make a note of the questions you want to ask. You will invariably forget some of them ~...
I’m lucky that I’m interested in school work, ~ I’d go mad.
ADV: ADV with cl
2.
You use ~ before stating the general condition or quality of something, when you are also mentioning an exception to this general condition or quality.
The decorations for the games have lent a splash of colour to an ~ drab city.
...a blue and gold caravan, slightly travel-stained but ~ in good condition.
ADV: ADV group
3.
You use ~ to refer in a general way to actions or situations that are very different from, or the opposite to, your main statement. (WRITTEN)
Take approximately 60mg up to four times a day, unless advised ~ by a doctor...
All photographs are by the author unless ~ stated.
ADV: ADV with v
4.
You use ~ to indicate that other ways of doing something are possible in addition to the way already mentioned.
The studio could punish its players by keeping them out of work, and ~ controlling their lives.
ADV: ADV before v
5.
You use or ~ or and ~ to mention something that is not the thing just referred to or is the opposite of that thing.
It was for the police to assess the validity or ~ of the evidence...
I was feeling really ill, mentally and ~.
PHRASE: n/adj PHR