I am talking about something which is part of a category of factors, but, at the same time, can be a whole different factor "by/in/or on (???) its own merit". I mean to say: due to its special nature it can stand on its own as a different factor - not necessarily belonging to a category.
[God I hate prepositions!! I've spent 2/3 of my life studying and speaking English and prepositions are the one thing I will never master nor gain any intuitions about
(also, I think I have my good days and bad days as far as guessing the right preposition goes, and today I am obviously on a bad day)]
[God I hate prepositions!! I've spent 2/3 of my life studying and speaking English and prepositions are the one thing I will never master nor gain any intuitions about