0
English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Fdixed expressions in formal writing

a. It wasn't so much boring as (it was) long.

b. It wasn't boring so much as long.

c. It wasn't so much that it was boring, more that it was long.

All interchangeable?

Which would you use?

Rather formal or seen in all contexts?

Thanks, and have a good day
  

Top answer

All seem slightly awkward to me, sorry. I don't see any difference in register, though-- they are all rather informal. If I were composing the idea, I think I would try It was long and boring , and leave it at that.

— Mister Micawber

  • All seem slightly awkward to me, sorry.
  • I don't see any difference in register, though-- they are all rather informal.
  • If I were composing the idea, I think I would try It was long and boring , and leave it at that.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
All seem slightly awkward to me, sorry. I don't see any difference in register, though-- they are all rather informal. If I were composing the idea, I think I would try It was long and boring, and leave it at that.
0
0
English 1b3a. It wasn't so much boring as (it was) long.
b. It wasn't boring so much as long.
c. It wasn't so much that it was boring, more that it was long.
I'd use

a. (full form) It wasn't so much boring as it was long.

I do not prefer b. or c. They do seem awkward. But a variant of c. isn't bad to my ear:

It
0
0
Thanks.

Are you both saying the expressions are awkward or the context in which they're used is?

All 3 expressions I have read myself, so I assume you mean the latter.

For instance, my dictionary defines the expression 'so much as' as 'but rather.'
0
0
Yes, they seem rather over-structured for the sentence content to me.
0

Related Questions