all so that

USAGE SUMMARY

"all so that" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that a certain action was done in order to achieve a certain result. For example: I stayed up late studying, all so that I could get an A on the exam.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Needy people cannot get anything at all, so that is why people are resorting to demonstrations to show their anger in any way possible".

The New York Times

and, inductively, it follows that for all so that is isotropic.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

One mother shared, "I was on social assistance and my ex-husband wasn't giving me any support at all so that was difficult.

BMC Public Health

We will give our all so that Argentina can be champions again".

BBC

"I haven't walked off the pitch in one game and thought the players haven't given their all, so that gives you hope.

BBC

All so that we could have our long, precious goodbye.

The New Yorker

All so that a few gentlemen can have their BMWs".

The Guardian

All so that I can play golf and go on a cruise.

The Guardian

But it didn't really work at all, so that was it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

To set the record crooked once and for all, so that someone's life (some stranger's) was not without wonder.

The New York Times - Books

It felt awfully selfish letting my daughter cry until her voice broke, all so that I could sleep uninterrupted.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "all so that", ensure the intended cause-and-effect relationship is clear to the reader. Avoid ambiguity by placing the phrase directly before the clause that explains the purpose or result.

Common error

Avoid using "all so that" when a simpler "so that" or "in order that" would suffice. Overusing the "all" can make your writing sound unnecessarily emphatic or even awkward. Use it judiciously to highlight a particularly significant or surprising outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all so that" functions as a subordinating conjunction that introduces a clause of purpose. It indicates the reason or intention behind an action, similar to phrases like "in order that" or simply "so that". According to Ludwig, it is considered a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "all so that" is a correct and frequently used phrase serving as a purpose connector. It functions to emphasize the intention or desired outcome behind an action, making it suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more commonly found in news and media sources, science and formal business settings. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and readily usable in written English. While similar to other phrases like "so that" and "in order that", "all so that" carries a stronger emphasis on the purpose or effort involved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

so that

Slightly less emphatic and more common.

in order to

A more direct and common way to express purpose.

so as to

More concise and often used in formal contexts.

in order that

More formal alternative, suitable for academic or professional writing.

to ensure that

Highlights the act of making something certain.

with the aim that

Focuses explicitly on the intention or goal.

with the intention of

Emphasizes the deliberate planning behind an action.

for the purpose of

Highlights the specific reason for an action.

to the end that

Formal and somewhat archaic, emphasizing the final result.

in hopes that

Expresses a desired outcome or expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "all so that" in a sentence?

Use "all so that" to clearly indicate the purpose or intended outcome of an action. For example: "I practiced every day, "all so that" I could win the competition."

What's the difference between "all so that" and "so that"?

"All so that" emphasizes the intention or effort put into achieving a specific outcome, whereas "so that" simply indicates a purpose. The addition of "all" amplifies the reason behind the action. The sentence "I worked hard so that I could get a promotion" doesn't focus that much on intention as it would do with the phrase "I worked hard, "all so that" I could get a promotion".

What can I say instead of "all so that"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "in order that", "so as to", or "with the aim that" to express the same idea.

Is "all so that" formal or informal?

"All so that" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is often more appropriate in situations where you want to stress the effort or intention behind an action. Phrases like "in order that" are more typically found in formal writing.