so great that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "so great that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as an intensifier to describe a high degree of something: It was a grand feast - so great that I had to take a photo to document the experience.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The outcry was so great that even Dolan blinked.

The New York Times

"The difference is so great that it's almost a joke.

The Washington Post

So great that John McCain is coming back to vote.

The Washington Post

She wrote back: So great that you're writing again!

The New Yorker

The impact is so great that I have to sit or lie down.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You look so great that we want to make sure everyone knew! :)" read the tweet.

Independent

"It's so great that now she will miss the light and openness".

The New York Times

"The wrong-headedness of this was so great that the Pres.

The New Yorker

The pressure on the family became so great that Ruchika killed herself in 1993.

The New York Times

She's so great that everyone assumes I must be kind of cool.

The New York Times - Magazine

But the need is so great that even great strides are inadequate.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "so great that" to emphasize the magnitude of a situation or feeling and its direct consequence. For instance, "The anticipation was so great that I could barely sleep."

Common error

Avoid using "so great that" in sentences where a simpler construction would suffice. For example, instead of "The heat was so great that it was uncomfortable", consider "The heat was unbearable."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so great that" functions as a causal connector, linking a preceding clause that describes a significant attribute (greatness) to a subsequent clause that expresses a consequence or result of that attribute. Ludwig confirms this usage with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "so great that" is a versatile causal connector used to emphasize the magnitude of a situation and its resulting consequence. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly used across a wide range of sources, including News & Media, Academia, and Science. While suitable for most writing contexts, it is most effective when used to highlight a significant impact or outcome, and less effective in overly simple sentences where other options might be better. Common alternative include "to such an extent that" or "so much that".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

so significant that

Highlights the importance of something as the cause.

so powerful that

Emphasizes the strength of something as the cause.

to such an extent that

Replaces "so great" with a more formal phrasing.

so much that

Similar in meaning, but emphasizes quantity rather than greatness.

such was the extent that

Emphasizes the degree to which something occurred.

to the degree that

Indicates a proportional relationship leading to a consequence.

sufficiently that

Suggests adequacy leading to a result.

to a point where

Indicates reaching a threshold that triggers a consequence.

as a result of which

More formal construction emphasizing causality.

enough to

Simpler phrasing indicating a result is achieved.

FAQs

How can I use "so great that" in a sentence?

Use "so great that" to show a direct consequence of something being significant. For example, "The demand was "so great that" the product sold out in hours."

What are some alternatives to "so great that"?

You can use alternatives such as "to such an extent that", "so much that", or "to the degree that" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "so great that" formal or informal?

"So great that" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, alternatives like "to such an extent that" might be preferred.

What's the difference between "so great that" and "very great"?

"Very great" simply describes the magnitude of something, while "so great that" implies a consequence or result of that magnitude. For instance, "The success was very great" describes the success, while "The success was "so great that" it exceeded expectations" explains the impact of the success.