TYPICAL ERROR The children were that excited they could not go to sleep.
CORRECTION The children were so excited that they could not go to sleep.
EXPLANATION It is very common to hear expressions such as, 'They were so excited,' or 'They were that excited!' Technically, these are incorrect. We should say, for example, either:
- They were very excited. OR
- They were so excited that they could not go to sleep.
If we write what people tend to say, especially what people tend to say without thinking about grammar, we should at least use an exclamation mark, as in:
- They were so excited!
The same problem occurs with the word such. Expressions such as, 'That is such a good idea!' are frequently heard in everyday speech but such really ought to be followed by that. Some correct expressions are:
- That is a great idea.
- That is such a good idea that I will copy it.
Here are some more models. The last example in each set uses common, everyday slang phrasing and should not be used in formal writing.
- The pace was very fast.
- The pace was so fast that I couldn't keep up.
- The pace was so fast!
- He was very upset about breaking up.
- He was so upset about breaking up with his girlfriend that he kept to himself for weeks.
- He was so upset about breaking up!
- The cyclone caused great havoc.
- The cyclone caused such havoc that the festival had to be postponed.
- The cyclone caused such havoc!