‘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’. 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
