as to speak

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as to speak" is not correct and is not commonly used in written English.
It may be intended to convey the idea of "in order to speak" or "so as to speak," but it is not a standard expression. Example: "He paused for a moment, as to speak, before continuing with his explanation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Yet, if the goal is collaboration, isn't it as important to listen as to speak?

The New Yorker

Teen movies, unsurprisingly, tend to require a contemporary setting so as to speak most directly to their core audience, but Adventureland is unashamedly set smack-bang in the middle of the 80s, the decade when teen movies themselves arguably reached their peak.

The Guardian - Film

There are some issues there that are so clear as to speak to the cultural shift.

The New York Times

Sather had gone so far as to speak with St . LouisGeneral Manager Larry Pleau regarding the battery of tests the Blues' doctors put Lindros through on Monday.

The New York Times - Sports

I wish our high school teacher had taught us to hear French as well as to speak, read and write it.

The New York Times - Travel

She was also returned to the past by the restoration of Charleston, and was invited to advise on the reconstruction of its fabric, as well as to speak at its festivals and at other occasions.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

As to speaking up, recall the quote atop this post.

Huffington Post

As to spoken languages, he is fluent in English, and is proficient in both Spanish and Turkish.

Wikipedia

He was just as much mine to speak as anyone else.

The Guardian

We are now only as free to speak as a government official may allow.

Huffington Post

"Sometimes we don't have as much confidence to speak".

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "as to speak" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives like "in order to speak" or "so as to speak" to maintain grammatical correctness.

Common error

Do not confuse "as to speak" with proper purpose clauses. If intending to express the reason for an action, use "in order to speak" or "so as to speak". Using "as to speak" may lead to misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as to speak" aims to function as a purpose clause, intending to connect an action with the reason for it. However, Ludwig AI identifies this phrase as grammatically incorrect. A more appropriate construction is to use "in order to speak" or "so as to speak".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as to speak" is grammatically incorrect and its usage is discouraged in formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While it appears in various contexts, mainly within news and media, more appropriate alternatives like "in order to speak" or "so as to speak" should be preferred to clearly convey the intended meaning of expressing purpose. Avoid using "as to speak" to prevent misinterpretation and maintain grammatical correctness. "In order to speak" and "so as to speak" are accurate and more common replacements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in order to speak

More common and grammatically correct way to express purpose.

so as to speak

A slightly more formal but grammatically sound alternative.

when it comes to speaking

Focuses on the act of speaking in relation to a topic.

regarding speaking

Introduces the topic of speaking in a more direct way.

concerning speaking

Similar to "regarding speaking", but slightly more formal.

with respect to speaking

More formal and emphasizes consideration of the topic.

in terms of speaking

Focuses on the specific way of speaking.

as regards speaking

A more archaic and formal way to introduce the topic.

on the subject of speaking

Clearly indicates the topic is about speaking.

in connection with speaking

Highlights the relationship or association with speaking.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "as to speak"?

Better alternatives include "in order to speak" or "so as to speak", which clearly indicate purpose.

Is "as to speak" grammatically correct?

No, "as to speak" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use "in order to speak" or "so as to speak" instead.

How can I use "in order to speak" correctly?

Use "in order to speak" to introduce the reason or purpose behind an action, for example, "He paused in order to speak clearly".

What is the difference between "as to speak" and "so to speak"?

"As to speak" is not a recognized idiom and should be avoided. "So to speak" is used to qualify something you are saying, indicating it's not entirely accurate but serves as an approximation.