this has virtually disappeared in less than six months,事實上，它不到6個月就消失了

less than:不到； 少于

It was nothing less than a miracle.

那完全是個奇跡。

so as we're scrabbling around the hillsides,只要我們在山坡周圍尋找

so as:只要

There is hope so as he is with us.

只要他在就有希望。

常用短語:

in so far as到 ... 的程度

not so much as與其 ... 不如

so long as只要（多指否定）

not so much…as與其說是…不如說是…

We don't know what makes an earthquake start today instead of yesterday.我們不清楚地震為何發生在今日而不是昨天

instead of:而不是 ...

The economy is shrinking instead of growing.

經濟正在萎縮而不是在增長中。

Instead of pressing forward, then drew back.

他們不僅沒有前進，反而后退了。