however so that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "however so that" is not correct and does not form a coherent expression in written English.
It seems to be an attempt to combine two separate ideas, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "I wanted to help you, however so that you could succeed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My girlfriends down at the Y have never tried socca, however, so that got me thinking about what would happen if Mark and I tried making socca with more accessible flours.

The New York Times

They're better than most, however, so that's something.

TechCrunch

The Motorola RAZR series is supported, however, so that's roughly 12 Billion people right there.

TechCrunch

It affects all the Kickstarter units I've come across so far, however, so that's not a good sign.

TechCrunch

One smartphone could register multiple pings, however, so that's not an indication of how many customers have been tracked using Euclid's solution.

TechCrunch

With Z-Wave and an open API, it does seem one of the more extensible and future-proof options out there, however, so that may play a role in getting customers on board.

TechCrunch

(They are taking pre-orders for Dale Maharidge's new book, however, so that's good news).

Huffington Post

He conveyed his message discreetly, however, so that Germany would lose no face by backing down.

The New York Times - Books

Their orientations are all alike, however, so that the rotational symmetry remains discrete.

Britannica

The pool of potential inspectors would be 230, however, so that a new group would be periodically assigned.

The New York Times

Engaging in extramarital relationships disturbed his conscience, however, so that for years he felt unworthy to receive communion.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "however so that" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and grammatically correct alternatives like "however, in order that" or rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

Common error

Do not combine "however" and "so that" directly. "However" introduces a contrast, while "so that" introduces a purpose or result. Using them together creates an awkward and grammatically incorrect construction. Instead, use them in separate clauses or find a more suitable conjunction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "however so that" attempts to function as a conjunction linking contrasting information with a purpose or result. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this combination is grammatically questionable. It tries to bridge a contrasting statement with a clause explaining the intent behind it.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

26%

Science

26%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "however so that" is used to connect a contrasting statement with a purpose or result. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. While examples of its use are very common across various sources such as news media, encyclopedias, and scientific publications, it's advisable to use clearer alternatives like "nevertheless to ensure", or to rephrase the sentence to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity. In essence, while frequently encountered, "however so that" is a combination to approach with caution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nevertheless to ensure

Replaces "however" with "nevertheless" to indicate contrast, and "so that" with "to ensure" to express purpose.

nonetheless in order to

Substitutes "however" with "nonetheless" for contrast and "so that" with "in order to" to clarify the purpose.

yet in such a way that

Uses "yet" to signal contrast and "in such a way that" to specify the resulting condition or outcome.

despite this, thus

Employs "despite this" to introduce a contrast and "thus" to indicate a consequence or result.

even so, in order that

Combines "even so" to express contrast with "in order that" to highlight a specific purpose.

however, to this end

Replaces "so that" with "to this end" to denote a purpose or goal, while retaining "however" for contrast.

on the other hand, consequently

Uses "on the other hand" to present a contrast and "consequently" to show a result or outcome.

still, with the aim of

Combines "still" to indicate contrast with "with the aim of" to specify an intended outcome or purpose.

that being said, therefore

Employs "that being said" to introduce a contrasting point and "therefore" to indicate a logical consequence.

all the same, to the effect that

Uses "all the same" to express contrast and "to the effect that" to describe the result or impact.

FAQs

Is "however so that" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "however so that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use alternatives like "nevertheless to ensure" or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

What can I use instead of "however so that" to show contrast and purpose?

To show both contrast and purpose, you can use phrases such as "nonetheless in order to" or "yet in such a way that". Alternatively, you can separate the ideas into two distinct clauses.

How can I rephrase a sentence that incorrectly uses "however so that"?

Instead of "however so that", try separating the contrast and purpose into two separate clauses using appropriate conjunctions. For instance, "The weather was bad; however, we proceeded with the picnic so that the children could enjoy themselves."

What is the difference between "however" and "so that"?

"However" introduces a contrast or contradiction, while "so that" introduces a purpose or result. Using them together directly is grammatically awkward. It's best to use them in separate parts of the sentence to maintain clarity.