GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜に至っては
Selects the most extreme case from several examples as the topic to emphasize the seriousness of a situation.
Examples
小さな誤記が相次ぎ、最終章に至ってはページ番号まで抜けていた。
Minor typographical errors appeared one after another, and when it came to the final chapter, even the page numbers were missing.
Words used
大人でも半額で、子どもに至っては参加費も必要ない。
Adults pay half price, and in the case of children, there is not even an entry fee.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Use
に至ってはto select a striking case from several examples and emphasize that its degree goes further still. - Basic usage:
大人でも半額で、子どもに至っては参加費も必要ない。goes beyond the half price for adults to say that children need no entry fee at all.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- A highlighted case rather than elapsed time
最終章に至ってはselects the last chapter as a more striking case than the others. It can also apply without a time sequence, as in子どもに至っては.
- Not limited to negative cases
- Missing even the page numbers emphasizes a serious problem, while requiring no entry fee shows a greater benefit. Whether the case is positive or negative depends on what follows.