This is not a point I like to ponder too much, __________ it tip the mental balance. // EXCEPT FOR - INSTEAD - LEST

The dinner had gone off pretty flawlessly, ____________ Brian burning the Italian bread. // ACCORDING TO - EXCEPT FOR - MEANWHILE

It was definitely something to laugh about _________ but certainly not at the time. // OTHERWISE - ACCORDING TO - AFTERWARDS

The following day, Wills was so weak, he could ___________ crawl out of bed on the south bank of the Cooper. // AFTERWARDS - SCARCELY - OWING TO

My mother and stepmother are sworn enemies ___________ my mother's treatment of my stepsister when we were small. // IN CASE OF - OWING TO - FURTHERMORE

Copy It is success, ___________ it provides more excuses for the expansion of power over the rest of us. // INSOFAR AS - UNLESS - SCARCELY