Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
You use ~ to introduce a statement in a subordinate clause which contrasts with the statement in the main clause. You often use ~ to introduce a fact which you regard as less important than the fact in the main clause.
Gaelic has been a dying language for many years, ~ children are nowadays taught it in school...
After news of this new court case Ford broke down again, ~ he blamed the breakdown on his work...
= al~
CONJ
2.
You use ~ to introduce a subordinate clause which gives some information that is relevant to the main clause and weakens the force of what it is saying.
I look back on it as the bloodiest (~ not literally) winter of the war...
= al~
CONJ
3.
You use ~ to indicate that the information in a clause contrasts with or modifies information given in a previous sentence or sentences.
I like him. Though he makes me angry sometimes...
ADV: ADV with cl
4.
You can say ~ I say so myself or even ~ I say it myself when you are praising yourself or something you have done, but do not want to sound too proud. (mainly SPOKEN)
I’m a good cook, ~ I say it myself...
PHRASE: PHR with cl
5.
as ~: see as
even ~: see even