so often

USAGE SUMMARY

"so often" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that something happens frequently. For example, "I visit my grandmother so often that she always looks forward to my arrival."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Equality so often is.

Independent

Successfully so, often enough.

The New York Times

It's been so often.

The New York Times

They so often do.

The New York Times

It happens every so often.

The New Yorker

Except it so often does.

Independent

"You hear it so often.

The New York Times

EVERY so often it happens.

The New York Times

We've seen it so often.

The New York Times

So often we fall short.

The New York Times

But not so often.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "so often" to emphasize the high frequency of an event or action, particularly when you want to express a sense of regularity or habit. For instance, "She visits the library so often that the librarians know her by name."

Common error

Avoid using "so often" repeatedly in formal writing, as it can sound less sophisticated. Instead, vary your vocabulary with alternatives like "frequently", "regularly", or "repeatedly" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so often" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate frequency. It emphasizes how frequently an action or event occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

17%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "so often" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that indicates a high degree of frequency. As Ludwig AI confirms, its purpose is to emphasize how regularly something occurs. While it’s common in news and media, as well as in more informal contexts like wikis, it should be used judiciously in formal writing, where synonyms like "frequently" or "regularly" might be more appropriate. Remember to use "so often" to effectively convey the recurrence of an action, but be mindful of the context and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite often

This alternative is very close in meaning but implies a slightly lower frequency than "so often".

very frequently

This alternative adds extra emphasis to the frequency of an action, making it slightly stronger than "so often".

frequently

This alternative is a single-word adverb conveying high frequency, which is more concise than "so often".

regularly

This alternative suggests a consistent pattern or schedule, whereas "so often" might imply irregularity.

repeatedly

This alternative emphasizes the repetition of an action, which may be more forceful than simply saying it happens "so often".

time and again

This alternative is more idiomatic and emphasizes the recurrence over a longer period.

on many occasions

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the number of times something occurs.

in many instances

This alternative is similar to "on many occasions" but focuses on specific occurrences.

as a rule

This alternative suggests something happens almost always, implying a rule or strong tendency, whereas "so often" might not be quite so consistent.

more than not

This alternative indicates that something is more likely to happen than not, a less direct and slightly weaker statement of frequency compared to "so often".

FAQs

How can I use "so often" in a sentence?

You can use "so often" to describe the frequency of an event. For example, "He travels so often that he has accumulated a lot of airline miles."

What are some alternatives to "so often"?

Alternatives to "so often" include "frequently", "regularly", and "repeatedly", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "very often" or "so often"?

"Very often" and "so often" are similar in meaning, but "so often" can carry a slightly stronger emphasis on the frequency. The choice depends on the desired nuance.

When is it inappropriate to use "so often"?

While generally acceptable, "so often" might sound less formal than alternatives such as "frequently" or "regularly". Therefore, it might be less suitable for highly formal or academic writing.