all that ever

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all that ever" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the totality or completeness of something in a poetic or dramatic context. Example: "She was all that ever mattered to him, the light in his darkest days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Once in a while a vessel puts in with supplies, and that Is all that ever happens.

The New Yorker

Indeed, it might well remain all that ever matters, for I am not hopeful of seeing Dundee lift a major trophy in my lifetime.

The Guardian - Sport

That's all that ever came, except in theatre".

The Guardian - Film

"What have you done for me lately?" is all that ever matters.

The New York Times

That blissful period when indiepop was all that ever mattered did not last long.

The Guardian - Music

Listening to t-shirt-clad Californians with big ideas but no principles has led us to the point of social annihilation, to the whacky Leveson witch hunts and to the near-destruction of all that ever made Britain great.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

It's with a sad heart that we must inform you all that Everest will be shutting down soon.

TechCrunch

But remember: all that was ever required to forestall these attacks was for Palestinians to stop their violence against Israelis".

Independent

"All that psychological stuff... educated guesses is all that can ever be.

Vice

We were thus able to construct a weighted PTE-level dataset that accurately represents all PTEs that ever occurred to all respondents.

BMC Psychiatry

DAMN MY EGGS — DAMN ALL THE EGGS THAT EVER WAS! Things have to change, and they may soon.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all that ever" to add emphasis or a sense of finality to a statement. It works well when summarizing a situation or highlighting the ultimate importance of something.

Common error

Avoid using "all that ever" in informal conversations where simpler phrasing like "everything" would suffice. The phrase carries a weight that can sound overly dramatic in casual settings.

Linguistic Context

"All that ever" functions as a quantifier phrase, emphasizing the totality or completeness of the noun phrase it modifies. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrasing is suitable for poetic and dramatic contexts, as evidenced in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

27%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Reference

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "all that ever" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to emphasize the totality or completeness of something. As Ludwig AI points out, it's often employed in poetic or dramatic contexts. Analysis of real-world examples reveals its frequent occurrence in news and media, as well as scientific writing. While versatile, it's best to avoid using it in overly casual contexts where simpler phrasing would be more appropriate. Alternatives such as "everything that ever" or "all that has ever" can provide similar emphasis with slight variations in tone and focus.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

everything that ever

This alternative emphasizes the totality of things, replacing "all that" with "everything".

all that has ever

This alternative uses the present perfect tense to stress the continuous relevance or impact of something.

all that will ever

This alternative shifts the focus to the future, emphasizing what will happen.

all that could ever

This alternative indicates possibility or potential, rather than a definitive state.

all that might ever

Similar to "could ever", this suggests possibility but with a slightly more tentative tone.

everything that was ever

This phrase adds emphasis to past events and things that existed.

the sum total of all that ever

This alternative uses a more formal tone to denote the entirety of something.

all which ever

This is a slightly archaic construction that can replace "all that" in certain contexts.

all of what ever

This alternative is less common and provides a slightly different emphasis on the constituent parts.

that which has always

This alternative uses a more complex construction that shifts the emphasis.

FAQs

What does "all that ever" mean?

The phrase "all that ever" emphasizes the totality of something, suggesting that it includes everything possible within a certain context or time frame. It's often used to convey a sense of finality or completeness.

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

You can use "all that ever" to emphasize the importance or completeness of something. For example, "Love is "all that ever" mattered to her."

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

You can use alternatives like "everything that ever", "all that has ever", or "all that will ever" depending on the context.

Is "all that ever" grammatically correct?

Yes, "all that ever" is grammatically correct. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, particularly for emphasizing the totality of something in a poetic or dramatic context.