so did he

USAGE SUMMARY

"so did he" is a grammatically correct expression that is commonly used in written English.
It is used to indicate agreement with a statement someone else has made. For example: I thought the movie was really good. So did he.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So did he.

The New York Times

"And so did he.

The New York Times

It so did, he says.

Independent

So did he misspeak?

The New York Times

So did he pose?

The New York Times

And as I grew, so did he.

Independent

So, did he really do it?

Independent

But when circumstances changed so did he.

The New Yorker

To his surprise, so did he.

The New Yorker

We accepted and so did he.

Independent

She wanted contact, and so did he.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the auxiliary verb ("did") matches the tense of the original statement. For example, if the original statement used "was", the agreement should be "so was he".

Common error

Avoid using the incorrect auxiliary verb. "So does he" would only be correct if the original statement used the present simple tense. Using "so did he" implies the original statement was in the past tense.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "so did he" is as a concise agreement phrase. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is employed to indicate that the action or state previously mentioned applies equally to the person referenced by "he".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

16%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "so did he" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for expressing agreement in the English language. As Ludwig AI indicates, it serves as a concise way to convey that a previously mentioned action or state also applies to another person. It maintains a neutral tone, making it suitable for diverse contexts, though it is most prevalent in news and media. Remember to ensure correct verb tense alignment and consider more formal alternatives like "he concurred" when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he did too

Changes the word order and uses "too" instead of "so" to indicate agreement.

him as well

Uses "as well" to show that the action or feeling applies to him in addition to someone else.

he felt the same way

Indicates that he shared the same feeling or opinion.

that was also his experience

Highlights that his experience was similar or identical.

it was the same for him

Emphasizes the similarity of the situation or outcome for him.

he concurred

A more formal way of saying he agreed.

he shared that sentiment

Indicates he shared the same feeling or opinion, often used in more formal contexts.

he agreed as well

Explicitly states his agreement with the previous statement.

the same applied to him

Indicates the preceding statement or condition was also true for him.

he thought so too

Expresses agreement with an opinion or belief.

FAQs

How do I use "so did he" in a sentence?

Use "so did he" after someone makes a statement in the past tense to indicate that the same thing is true for the person you're referring to. For example, "I went to the store, and "so did he"".

What does "so did he" mean?

"So did he" is a short way of saying "he did too". It expresses agreement or indicates that a previous action or condition also applies to the person you're referring to.

What are some alternatives to "so did he"?

Alternatives include "he did too", "him as well", or "he also did". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is "so did he" formal or informal?

"So did he" is generally considered neutral in tone and appropriate for both informal and formal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "he concurred" might be preferable in highly formal writing.