Negative Comparisons: Not So...As...

How to use "not so...as..." correctly

This is an entry on my list of Common Errors in English Usage. Visit the main page for direct links to additional entries.

In a comparison involving a negative modifier such as no, not, or never, the word so, instead of as, should be used before the first adjective or adverb. This pattern is an example of archaic usage that is no longer observed by most American English speakers, but you should at least recognize that it is an accepted idiom.

It was not as difficult as I had predicted. (modern usage)

It was not so difficult as I had predicted. (traditional usage)

He never ran as quickly as when his life was in danger. (modern usage)

He never ran so quickly as when his life was in danger. (traditional usage)

Related Resources

Common Errors in English Usage: Errors in diction and idiom commonly made by native speakers of English

List of Common Errors in English Usage (PDF): Printable version of the complete list

Common Grammar Errors: A list of common errors in grammar (topics like subject-verb agreement and parallelism) as distinct from usage

List of Common Errors in English Usage: PDF version

© 2006, 2008, and 2019 C. Brantley Collins, Jr.