So vs as

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Hello, ..Could you please tell me how the following sentences differ?-"Will, it wasn't something I read so much as told about."-"Will, it wasn't something I read as much as told about."Thank you.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

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Hello, ..

Could you please tell me how the following sentences differ?
-"Will, it wasn't something I read so much as told about."
-"Will, it wasn't something I read as much as told about."

Thank you.

I think we should make those sentences correct before we compare them.

I think it was supposed to be that you were told (about) something, not that you told someone else (about) something. "about" is not necessary. I would omit it.

I'm assuming also that "Will" is a person by the name of "William", not a misspelling of the pause-word "Well".

Will, it wasn't something I read [so/as] much as something I was told.

Some writers on grammar say that 'so' is the right choice with a negative, but that advice is not always followed these days.

I would use 'so', but both are OK.

CJ

GPY · Answer

"Will" could be correct as the name of the person being addressed, but possibly it is a typo for "Well".

"it wasn't something I read so/as much as told about" is most probably wrong. My guess is that it should say "it wasn't something I read so/as much as was told about". This means that "I was told (about this thing)" is more the case than "I read (about this thing)". It means the same with "so" and "as".

(Cross-posted.)

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