1. As an introductory phrase:
* "To say the least, the situation was tense." (Use a comma after the phrase.)
2. As a parenthetical phrase:
* "The meeting was, to say the least, unproductive." (Use commas before and after the phrase.)
* "The food was, to say the least, underwhelming." (Use commas before and after the phrase.)
3. As a concluding phrase:
* "The team performed poorly, to say the least." (Use a comma before the phrase.)
Note: It is less common to use a semicolon or colon before "to say the least," but it is possible in certain cases.
For example:
* "The concert was a disaster; to say the least, it was a complete disappointment."
The choice of punctuation depends on the specific sentence and how you want to emphasize the phrase.