all that did

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all that did" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to everything that was done or accomplished in a particular context, often implying that the actions taken were limited or insufficient. Example: "After all that did, we still found ourselves back at square one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Usage

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

All that did work well.

The New York Times

All that did was anger some Jews on the right.

The New York Times

Having said all that, did I expect the Colts to be winless?

The New York Times

All that did was bring up David Ortiz as the tying run.

The New York Times - Sports

"All that did was to box them in and give heart to the most extreme Sinhalese voices," he said.

The New Yorker

All that did was to bring thousands more on to the streets the next day, including Fasi.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

KFC, all that, don't do it anymore.

The New York Times

To me, all that doesn't seem very long ago.

The New Yorker

All that does is – it's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The Guardian

What if all that doesn't work?

Forbes

After all that, do some old-fashioned tire-kicking.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all that did" to concisely summarize a series of events or actions and their ultimate outcome. This is useful for highlighting the impact, or lack thereof, of a particular set of circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "all that did" when you intend to refer to actions that are still ongoing or have not yet fully manifested their effects. Ensure the actions you're summarizing are complete before using this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all that did" functions as a summary statement, often indicating the consequence or outcome of a previous action or series of events. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, showcasing examples where it connects actions to their results.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sports

20%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "all that did" is a versatile phrase used to succinctly express the outcome or consequence of previous actions. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically sound and frequently used in contexts ranging from news to general conversation. While its register is generally neutral, it's important to consider the specific context to ensure the tone aligns with the intended message. The phrase serves primarily to provide an evaluation, often emphasizing limitation or unintended effects. When considering alternatives, focus on maintaining the concise and evaluative nature of the original phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that's what it accomplished

Replaces "all that" with a more direct reference to the preceding action or situation.

the only result was

Emphasizes the singular outcome of the actions.

that's all it achieved

Focuses on the limited nature of the accomplishment.

it only served to

Highlights the function or purpose the action fulfilled, often with a slightly negative connotation.

the effect of that was

More formal and explicitly states the cause-and-effect relationship.

all it managed to do was

Emphasizes the effort involved and potentially the limited success.

that action resulted in

A more formal alternative, highlighting the consequence of a specific action.

the consequence of that was

Highlights the direct outcome or result of a particular action or event.

ultimately, it led to

Indicates a final outcome after a series of events or actions.

in the end, that caused

Highlights the final cause-and-effect relationship in a sequence of events.

FAQs

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

You can use "all that did" to summarize the outcome of a specific action or series of events. For example, "He tried to fix the car himself, but "all that did" was make the problem worse."

What's a simple alternative to "all that did"?

A simpler alternative is "that's all it did". For instance, instead of "All that did was delay the process", you could say "That's all it did was delay the process".

When is it appropriate to use "all that did"?

It is most appropriate when you want to emphasize the limited or perhaps negative impact of a previous action. It's suitable when the effects are already known and you're reflecting on them.

Is "all that did" formal or informal?

"All that did" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal writing might benefit from more precise phrasing such as "the result of that was".