at play so

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at play so" is not standard or commonly used in written English.
It may be intended to convey that something is in effect or being considered, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "There are several factors at play so we need to consider all possibilities before making a decision."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Pavlov deduced that there were colliding forces of "excitation" and "inhibition" at play — so that, at first, the stimulus spreads across the cerebral cortex and then, in the second phase, it concentrates at one specific spot.

The New Yorker

But the roles of cat and mouse keep switching, the evil at play so pervasive and corrosive that even those on the periphery of the agent's quest for vengeance have their lives drastically changed or ended.

The Guardian - Film

There are a bunch of factors at play, so while the number is a rough estimate, it's far from a guess.

Huffington Post

We knew this for a long time, there was a lot of politics at play, so at the end of the day it really comes down to: what will Canada do with its resources?" "I think it should add impetus for our governments — plural — to get on with our reputational piece," he said, referring to Canada's ability to market its oil internationally.

Vice

These results demonstrate the importance of incorporating underlying biological processes as well as spatial and temporal scales relevant to the study population and of targeting the primary contributors to observed effects when multiple factors can be at play, so results can guide practical management options.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The edge probably goes to the Dolphins because they are at home and play so well in season openers.

The New York Times - Sports

This was promptly confiscated (don't fret: it was returned to him at close of play) so he had to rely on the company for his stimulation.

Independent

And that, I think, is the main problem underlying Martin's tragic death: the issues at play are so much more diverse and run so much deeper than many people realize.

Huffington Post

"We play so much at his speed, I needed to remind him that he sometimes needs to play at ours".

The New York Times - Sports

I didn't play so well at the very end.

Huffington Post

Plus, you can only play so much at a time.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "at play so" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "at play, so" or "at work, thus" to improve readability.

Common error

Don't use "at play so" as a direct substitute for conjunctions like "therefore" or "consequently". Ensure a clear separation and logical flow by using correct conjunctions or rephrasing the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at play so" attempts to link the presence of influencing factors with a consequential outcome. However, Ludwig AI notes its non-standard usage. The primary grammatical function intended is to act as a connector between a condition and its result, though it's not grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "at play so" aims to connect influencing factors with their consequences, it's not grammatically sound or widely accepted in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. It appears infrequently, primarily in News & Media and Science contexts. For clearer and more effective communication, it's best to use established alternatives such as "at work, therefore" or "in effect, consequently". Using these alternatives ensures both grammatical correctness and a professional tone. Consider rewording the sentence for clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

forces at work, consequently

Replaces "at play" with "at work" to denote influence and "so" with "consequently" to show result.

influences apparent, therefore

Replaces "at play" with "apparent" to emphasize visibility of influence and "so" with "therefore" to indicate conclusion.

factors in effect, thus

Replaces "at play" with "in effect" and "so" with "thus" to denote consequence.

conditions present, thus

Rephrases to indicate existing conditions and their logical consequence.

factors contributing, as a result

Focuses on the contributory nature of the factors and the resulting outcome.

elements influencing, therefore

Substitutes "at play" with "influencing" and "so" with "therefore" to signify causation.

elements exerting influence, consequently

Highlights the influence exerted by elements and the subsequent outcome.

issues involved, hence

Substitutes "at play" with "involved" and "so" with "hence" to suggest an outcome.

dynamics unfolding, accordingly

Suggests a process of unfolding dynamics and the appropriate response or result.

circumstances in action, accordingly

Replaces the entire phrase with a more formal alternative indicating active conditions and resulting action.

FAQs

What does "at play" mean in a sentence?

The phrase "at play" generally means in effect or in operation. It indicates that certain factors or forces are active and influencing a situation. For example, "There are many factors "at play" in this decision."

Is "at play so" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "at play so" is not standard or commonly used in written English. It's recommended to use alternatives for clarity.

What can I say instead of "at play so"?

You can use alternatives such as "at work" or "in effect" followed by a conjunction like "therefore" or "consequently" depending on the context.

How can I improve the sentence structure when using "at play"?

Ensure a comma separates "at play" from the conjunction, such as "Factors are "at play, so"..." or rephrase to use a stronger conjunction like "therefore" or "consequently" after stating the factors "at play".