Using “so” and “such” correctly in English
Rules, examples and common errors
‘So’ and ‘such’ are often used incorrectly in English.
Both so and such are used to give emphasis – this means to show that something is extreme or more than usual. For example –
The concert was so good! It was such a good concert!
In both cases, it wasn’t simply a ‘good’ concert, it was more than that.
So and such rule #1:
The main difference between so and such is that you do not use a noun after so.
- The concert was so good! – This is correct
It was so a good concert – You cannot say this
So and such rule #2:
After such, you need a noun.
- It was such a good concert – This is correct
It was such good – You cannot say this
So and such rule #3:
The two rules for so and such above can be combined with that to talk about the results of something.
FACT = The concert was so loud. RESULT = our ears hurt.
- The concert was so loud that our ears hurt. – This is correct
The concert was such loud that our ears hurt. – You cannot say this
- It was such a loud concert that our ears hurt. – This is correct
It was so a loud concert that our ears hurt. – You cannot say this
So and such rule #4:
So can also be followed by an adverb. NOTE: This is used to make a short comment or exclamation about something.
- He eats so quickly! – This is correct
He eats such quickly! – You cannot say this
- She sings so beautifully! – This is correct
She sings such beautifully! – You cannot say this
- He speaks so eloquently. – This is correct
He speaks such eloquently. – You cannot say this
BOOST YOUR VOCABULARY! Here’s a glossary of key words from this post:
| Word (Part of Speech) | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Emphasis (noun) | showing that something is very important or strong | The teacher put emphasis on speaking clearly. |
| Adverb (noun) | a word that describes how an action is done (e.g., quickly) | She runs quickly — quickly is an adverb. |
| Noun (noun) | a word for a person, place, thing or idea | In “a good concert”, concert is a noun. |
| Exclamation (noun) | a short strong expression showing feeling (often with !) | “Amazing!” is an exclamation. |
| Eloquently (adverb) | speaking in a clear and effective way | She spoke eloquently about her experience. |
| Underline (verb) | to draw a line under a word to show it is important | Please underline the new vocabulary in your book. |
| Result (noun) | what happens because of something else | The result of the test was a lower score than expected. |
| Combine (verb) | to put two or more things together | Combine the two rules to make a longer sentence. |
| Incorrectly (adverb) | doing something in the wrong way | Many students use ‘so’ and ‘such’ incorrectly at first. |
| Extreme (adjective) | very strong or much more than normal | The weather was extreme and everyone stayed inside. |