こととてsince … (asking for allowances)
A ceremonious, old-fashioned "since", said when you want allowances made: we're new, it's our first time, I didn't know.
As a newcomer, I have many shortcomings, and respectfully ask for your understanding.
How to form it
Noun + の + こととて
新人のこととて, 昔のこととて.
After a clause
Plain form + こととて
A な-adjective keeps its な: 不慣れなこととて.
- Before it
- The circumstance you want allowed for, often with 何分（にも） in front: 初めてのこととて, 不慣れなこととて, 知らぬこととて.
- After it
- An apology or a request for patience: 失礼いたしました, ご容赦ください. In a novel, just what happened as a result.
- Said about
- In an apology, your own side: yourself, your staff, your child.
- Where you'll meet it
- Letters of apology, greetings at ceremonies, notices to customers, novels, period dramas. Not in conversation, where people say 〜もので or 〜ので.
In use
As this is our first time, please point out anything we may have overlooked.
Since this was so long ago, no accurate records remain.
As it was a small village in a remote region, there was only one doctor.
In a novel: a plain reason, with no apology.
Two things to know
Old-style negatives come with it
知らぬ, 慣れぬ and 至らぬ are 知らない, 慣れない and 至らない in older dress. They suit the tone, so you'll see them around こととて a lot.
I had no idea. Please forgive my rudeness.
Too grand for an everyday reason
With an ordinary excuse it sounds like a line from a period drama.
Sounds odd: 寝坊した
Owing to my having overslept, I was late for class.
To a teacher: 寝坊してしまって or 寝坊したもので.
Close neighbours
The everyday polite excuse. Where a letter has 初めてのこととて, a person at a counter says 初めてなもので.
Sorry, it's my first time, so I don't really know how this works.
とあってN1
A reporter's "because": a special occasion and the result everyone could see. No apology in it.
With the long weekend here, the airport was crowded from early morning.
ゆえ（に）N1
A solemn written "because", for arguments and stories, and for any kind of reason. こととて is the one made for asking allowances.
Because of poverty, he gave up on continuing his education.
Check yourself
1Which sentence sounds natural?
Choose an answer to see why.
2What does this say?
知らぬ
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
知らぬこととはいえ looks almost the same and turns up in the same apologies, but it means "although I didn't know".
More sentences
We sincerely apologize that verification took so long, as our representative was inexperienced.
Given the traveler's advanced age, the long journey took a physical toll.
Having lived in the area for many years, he was also well acquainted with the village's old customs.
Having been familiar with the classics since childhood, he had no difficulty deciphering old documents.