so about every

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "so about every" is not standard in written English and may be confusing.
It could be used informally to suggest a generalization or approximation about frequency or quantity, but it lacks clarity. Example: "I go to the gym so about every other day, depending on my schedule."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

So about every three minutes they kept offering all of us a Coke.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Lebanon is a beautiful, mountainous country on the east coast of the Mediterranean, but not enough land is under cultivation to feed its population so about 15,000 people leave every year.

The New Yorker

By Joseph Wechsberg The New Yorker, November 8 , 1952P. 143 Lebanon is a beautiful, mountainous country on the east coast of the Mediterranean, but not enough land is under cultivation to feed its population so about 15,000 people leave every year.

The New Yorker

So can just about every superhero movie.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Like William, he "interests himself so much about every little trifle".

The Guardian - Books

"If you're so worried about every player every time and you're just pushing early to a guy, that means there will be gaps".

The New York Times - Sports

Of course, France is the home of laissez-faire, so just about every beach in southern France is topless.

The Guardian - Travel

Afterward, Natalie explained, "If I am there, I am so worried about every single note that I can't even sit still.

The New York Times - Magazine

Truthfully, photographing a naked body can be one of the most unsexual things only because you have to be so concerned about every aspect of the picture.

The New York Times

The campaigns are so worried about every electoral vote that a pro-Romney "super PAC" even invested in ads in Maine, a largely Democratic state, because it allocates some electoral votes by Congressional district and Republicans have a chance of picking up a single vote there.

The New York Times

So far about every major and niche computer maker has announced a Core i7 desktop platform this week and ASUS is not to be outdone.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, avoid using "so about every". Instead, opt for more precise alternatives like "approximately every" or "almost every" to enhance understanding and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "so about every" when you intend to express an approximate frequency or quantity. This phrase is vague and can confuse your readers. Substitute with clearer terms such as "approximately every", "roughly every", or "almost every".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so about every" attempts to function as an approximative quantifier, indicating an estimated frequency or extent. Its non-standard nature, as noted by Ludwig AI, makes its precise grammatical role ambiguous in formal contexts. Examples in Ludwig show attempts to convey 'around' or 'nearly' every instance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "so about every" is a non-standard phrase attempting to express approximation, but it lacks clarity and grammatical correctness. As Ludwig AI points out, it's advisable to use more precise alternatives such as "approximately every" or "almost every" to ensure effective communication. While the phrase appears in some sources, primarily in News & Media and Wiki contexts, its usage is infrequent and leans towards informal communication. Therefore, opting for grammatically sound alternatives enhances both clarity and credibility in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately every

Replaces "so about" with a more precise and standard adverb of approximation.

roughly every

Similar to 'approximately every', but with a slightly less formal tone.

around every

Offers a more colloquial way to indicate an approximate interval.

almost every

Indicates that the action or event happens in nearly all instances.

virtually every

Emphasizes that something happens in almost all cases, to a high degree.

practically every

Implies a condition or situation that is true in almost all relevant instances.

just about every

Retains a casual tone, similar to the original, but is more grammatically sound.

nearly every

Indicates a high degree of inclusion, approaching completeness.

on average every

Introduces the idea of an average interval, providing a statistical sense.

more or less every

Implies a minor degree of variance or approximation.

FAQs

What does "so about every" mean?

The phrase "so about every" is non-standard and its meaning isn't immediately clear. It's likely intended to indicate an approximate frequency or quantity, similar to phrases like "approximately every" or "roughly every".

Is it grammatically correct to say "so about every"?

No, "so about every" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Alternatives like "approximately every" or "almost every" are preferred.

What can I say instead of "so about every"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately every", "roughly every", or "just about every" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "so about every" or "approximately every"?

"Approximately every" is the correct and more precise phrase to use in formal and informal contexts. "So about every" is non-standard.