how much that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how much that" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to inquire about the quantity or extent of something, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "I was wondering how much that costs."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

How much that flat rate would be is still undetermined.

Los Angeles Times

"You know how much that costs?

Independent

"How much that thing cost?

The New York Times

It's amazing how much that comes up.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

People don't realise how much that happens.

The Guardian - Music

Don't even ask how much that cost.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The underlying issue is how much that decline will continue.

The New York Times

How much that would be, though, he cannot say.

The Economist

How much that really means remains to be seen.

The Economist

But he would not say how much that was.

The New York Times

How much that means will be reflected in their contracts.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how much that" in informal contexts only, being mindful that it might be considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "how much that" in formal contexts. It's often perceived as grammatically imprecise. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "how much it is" or "what the cost is".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how much that" functions as part of an interrogative clause, typically used to inquire about the quantity, cost, or extent of something. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, the phrasing is grammatically questionable, and often requires adjustment for formal usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "how much that" is used to inquire about quantities or costs, it's considered grammatically incorrect and lacks clarity in formal English. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrasing should be avoided in academic or professional writing. Despite its relative frequency in news and media sources, alternative phrases like "how much it costs" or "what is the cost of that" provide more precise and grammatically sound options. In essence, while understandable in casual contexts, prioritize grammatically correct alternatives for formal communication to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how much it

Replaces "that" with "it" for grammatical correctness, referring to a specific item or situation.

how much this

Substitutes "that" with "this" to emphasize proximity or immediacy.

how much those

Changes "that" to "those" to refer to multiple items that are farther away.

the cost of that

Rephrases to explicitly mention "cost" for clarity when inquiring about price.

what that costs

Inverts the structure for a more direct question about the cost.

how much that amounts to

Adds "amounts to" for a more formal inquiry about the total quantity or value.

how much that entails

Replaces "costs" with "entails" to broaden the scope beyond monetary value.

how significant that is

Shifts focus to the significance or importance rather than a specific amount.

to what extent that

Introduces a more formal and nuanced inquiry about the degree or scope.

the degree to which that

Offers a more academic phrasing focusing on the degree of impact or influence.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "how much that"?

Instead of "how much that", use phrases like "how much "how much it"" or "what the cost of "the cost of that" is" for better clarity and correctness.

Is "how much that" considered correct in formal writing?

No, "how much that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing. It's better to use more precise alternatives.

When is it okay to use "how much that"?

"How much that" might be acceptable in very informal speech or casual conversation, but it should be avoided in formal writing.

What does "how much that" mean?

"How much that" intends to ask about the quantity, extent, or cost of something, but the phrasing is grammatically imprecise. It's similar to asking about "how much it costs".