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I get really annoyed when I read the phrases "however that may be" or "be that as it may". It's when my bullshit detector goes wild. The reason being that I often find it in articles in which the author cites an adverse opinion to their own that is in fact, much stronger and better founded than their own, but use either of these phrases to cop out. It reads to me that they have no counter-arguments, but their whole article is so highly opinionated and based on a certain idea that it would fall apart if they had to admit any sort of merit to such an opinion. I wish I could say it only occurs in newspaper opinion pieces, but I've found this phenomenon in far too many scholarly articles as well.
 
Perun said:
I get really annoyed when I read the phrases "however that may be" or "be that as it may". It's when my bullshit detector goes wild. The reason being that I often find it in articles in which the author cites an adverse opinion to their own that is in fact, much stronger and better founded than their own, but use either of these phrases to cop out. It reads to me that they have no counter-arguments, but their whole article is so highly opinionated and based on a certain idea that it would fall apart if they had to admit any sort of merit to such an opinion. I wish I could say it only occurs in newspaper opinion pieces, but I've found this phenomenon in far too many scholarly articles as well.
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In my experience that phrase is used to concede that there may be some merit or cogency to another opinion/argument, but nonetheless your opinion/argument should trump it, presumably for some persuasive reason. Example: "It is true that entitlements are an enormous drain on federal budgets; be that as it may, we cannot scale back entitlements now because it could lead to recession and social unfairness."
 
Cornfed Hick said:
In my experience that phrase is used to concede that there may be some merit or cogency to another opinion/argument, but nonetheless your opinion/argument should trump it, presumably for some persuasive reason. Example: "It is true that entitlements are an enormous drain on federal budgets; be that as it may, we cannot scale back entitlements now because it could lead to recession and social unfairness."
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In my experience, the phrase often comes after the author laid out a stupid argument, cited someone who countered that argument with facts, and then says, "however that may be, blablabla". It has happened so often in my readings that the phrase raises warning flags whenever I see it.
 
Has it become accepted as a nicety and accepted style, where it would be considered blunt and discourteous to simply go on the attack with the opposite side of the argument? Reminds me of attempting to talk to bosses at work: if in doubt, soften your approach by adding extra words, or they'll think you're outrageously out of order.
 
I now own my first plastic fiver. I only got it as I had to get some cash out for workmates birthdays.
 
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