as such

as such

1. In the role or manner of the thing mentioned.

   This is a valuable artefact and should be treated as such.

2. (usually in negative constructions) In a true or literal sense.

   I don't have a library as such, but I do have quite a large collection of books.

3. Per se, by itself, in itself, in and of itself.

   Money as such is not the root of evil.

   • 2012, Y. Yovel, Nietzsche as Affirmative Thinker, →ISBN:

     Nietzsche was well aware of this meta-ethical question, which in the above cited aphorism he calls: “The problem of morality itself.” It is implicitly answered in his explicative attitude towards morality as such.

   • 2012, K.J. Clark, Our Knowledge of God: Essays on Natural and Philosophical Theology, →ISBN:

     The nature of an entity, a medieval would have said, is what-it-is-as-such. An entity does not have a certain nature in the way it has a certain property. It is a certain nature. If an entity is something as such, then it is a certain nature.

   • 2012 -, J.J. Kockelmans, Phenomenological Psychology: The Dutch School, →ISBN, page 13:

     For only in this way is it possible to uncover the psychical as such in a truly original and concrete manner.

   • 2014, Elmar J. Kremer, Analysis of Existing: Barry Miller's Approach to God, →ISBN, page 31:

     Although wisdom as such, courage as such, understanding as such, existence as such, and so on can readily be conceived of (but not imagined), there are no entities corresponding to those conceptions: there are only instances of wisdom, courage, and so on.

4. Being as previously mentioned or described.

   I'm a mother of four young children; as such, I'm always rushed off my feet.

• When “as such” isn’t such a good idea, The Grammarphobia Blog
• “as such”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

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