What's the difference between ともかく and とにかく?


I have a feeling that they are etymologically related based on their kanjis
兎も角 and 兎に角 (although they're just 当て字 so there's not much to extract from
those kanjis, I guess), but I can't fully understand the explanation in
[here](https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1325922393):

> とにかくは、他にたくさんの些細なことがあっても、目下集中すべきことを優先する場合に使います。
> **用例）水泳には筋トレなど、たくさんの練習方法はあるが、とにかく泳ぐ。**
>
> ともかくは、他に優先すべきことがあるが、それを差し置いて優先する場合に使います。 **用例）試験勉強はさておき、ともかく泳ぐ。**

Does it mean that in とにかく there's an implication that the other things are 些細
or trivial while in ともかく it doesn't "trivialize" the other things? Also, do
you agree with this answer?




I don't fully agree with that answer on Yahoo but it's helpful.

Let's take an example 彼はおもしろい (he's funny.) "とにかく" always focuses on the fact
"he's funny" and emphasizes it but "ともかく" never does this.

> **とにかく** 彼はおもしろい  
>  (No matter how he has many demerits but I don't care, I want to say "He's
> funny!!" Even if he were a criminal I would still believe he's funny!!)

> **ともかく** 、彼はおもしろい  
>  (By the way, he's funny.)

Next, take another sentence 行動しよう(let's take action). In the same way, "とにかく"
emphasizes its target whereas "ともかく" doesn't.

> **とにかく** 行動しよう  
>  (Let's take action. It is the most important for us to take action. This is
> the goal of us.)

> **ともかく** 行動しよう  
>  (OK, let's try taking action. Because we're wasting time now.)

ビールを飲みたい (I want to drink beer.)

> **とにかく** ビールを飲みたい  
>  I eager to drink beer.

> **ともかく** ビールを飲みたい  
>  I want beer for now.

"とにかく" imparts a meaning like "whatever, but don't forget he's funny/Take
action/I want beer."  
"ともかく" really doesn't care about anything. "whatever".

