this has virtually disappeared in less than six months,事实上，它不到6个月就消失了

less than:不到； 少于

It was nothing less than a miracle.

那完全是个奇迹。

so as we're scrabbling around the hillsides,只要我们在山坡周围寻找

so as:只要

There is hope so as he is with us.

只要他在就有希望。

常用短语:

in so far as到 ... 的程度

not so much as与其 ... 不如

so long as只要（多指否定）

not so much…as与其说是…不如说是…

We don't know what makes an earthquake start today instead of yesterday.我们不清楚地震为何发生在今日而不是昨天

instead of:而不是 ...

The economy is shrinking instead of growing.

经济正在萎缩而不是在增长中。

Instead of pressing forward, then drew back.

他们不仅没有前进，反而后退了。