Yes, the phrase “so as to” reads formal; in everyday writing, use “to” or “so that” unless you need a very formal tone.
Writers bump into this phrase in reports, policies, and legal notes. Many wonder whether it sounds stiff, or if it still earns a place in clear, modern prose. Here’s a straight answer, with examples and quick swaps you can use without slowing down your draft.
Purpose Phrases At A Glance
| Form | Tone | Example |
|---|---|---|
| to + verb | neutral | We left early to beat traffic. |
| in order to + verb | formal | They paused publication in order to review sources. |
| so as to + verb | formal or old-fashioned | He spoke quietly so as to avoid waking the baby. |
What The Phrase Signals In Real Use
The wording signals a careful, slightly stiff register. It appears in policies, scientific reports, and legal writing. In general prose, plain to does the same job with fewer words, while so that links purpose to a full clause.
Modern style guides promote clarity. Plain options help more readers scan and act. Cambridge’s grammar shows it alongside other purpose links, and learning sites point out that it turns up more in formal text than in everyday notes. You can see the pattern in these examples and pick the level that fits your audience.
Is “So As To” Too Stiff For Everyday Writing?
It isn’t wrong. The phrase works, and plenty of editors accept it. That said, many workplaces prefer lean wording. When your sentence reads cleanly with to, pick that. When you need a full clause, choose so that. Long policy text may favor in order to for rhythm; just don’t overdo it.
Two quick checks keep you safe: first, read the line out loud. If your ear hears extra formality you don’t want, swap it. Second, ask whether the action that follows needs a clause or only a verb. That choice leads you to the neatest link.
Fine Points Writers Ask About
Negative Purpose
When the goal is to avoid something, add not before the infinitive: “so as not to delay,” “in order not to interrupt,” or simply “to avoid delay.” That last option is the leanest and often best for web copy.
Speech Vs. Writing
In conversation you’ll hear so that far more often. The longer phrase sticks to documents and careful emails. Matching the channel keeps your tone steady.
Register And Audience
Legal, academic, and technical readers expect a measured tone. In those settings the longer link may feel natural. For product pages, help centers, and news updates, short beats long.
For reference, Cambridge lists the structure in its purpose section and shows alternatives such as so that and in order that. See the entry on conjunctions and purpose in Cambridge Grammar, and a plain-language rule set from the UK government’s style guide that urges short, clear wording.
Cambridge grammar on purpose links |
GOV.UK style guide.
How To Choose The Right Link
Pick The Shortest Form That Still Reads Smooth
Start with plain to. If the sentence needs a clause for clarity, move to so that. Reach for the longer forms only when the tone or rhythm calls for them.
Mind Repetition
Back-to-back long links weigh down a paragraph. Mix your patterns: one sentence with a short infinitive, the next with a full clause if you need it.
Keep Subjects Clear
With so that, name who benefits or acts: “We added tooltips so that new users can find settings.” The reader sees the goal and the agent in one go.
Clean Examples You Can Copy
Swap Long For Short
- Wordy: The team met early so as to finalize budgets.
- Lean: The team met early to finalize budgets.
- Wordy: We spaced out the updates in order to reduce load.
- Lean: We spaced out the updates to reduce load.
Use A Clause When Needed
- Natural: Adjust the copy so that first-time visitors understand the plan tiers.
- Also fine: Adjust the copy to clarify plan tiers.
Negative Purpose Without Clutter
- Wordy: They whispered so as not to wake the baby.
- Lean: They whispered to avoid waking the baby.
When Each Form Works Best
| Context | Preferred Form | Why It Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Web copy, product notes | to + verb | Fast to scan and easy on mobile. |
| How-to steps, help docs | so that + clause | Names the actor and the outcome. |
| Policies, formal reports | in order to / longer link | Matches a measured register. |
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Stacking Long Links
Two or three long links in a row make text feel heavy. Break them up with short infinitives or revised sentences.
Hiding The Actor
Purpose lines can drift into passive voice. Name the actor when it helps: “We delayed launch to fix billing errors” lands better than a passive rewrite.
Empty Fillers Around The Link
Cut vague phrases like “so as to be able to.” Most of the time, “to” plus a verb says the same thing.
Quick Decision Guide
- Try the short infinitive. If the line stays clear, keep it.
- If you need a clause, use so that and name who acts.
- Use a longer link only when the venue or house style calls for it.
- In negative purpose, prefer “to avoid …” unless rhythm or nuance needs something else.
Why Many Guides Nudge You Toward Plain Forms
Language teachers point out that the longer link shows up more in formal writing. Training sites also note that plain to covers most needs, with so that for full clauses. That advice lines up with plain-English policies used by public bodies and many brands.
If you want to read more, try a short explainer on purpose links from a teaching site and a simple overview of the infinitive of purpose. They both show how writers pick the right tool based on audience and medium.
You can find short primers on many training sites that echo this advice and show side-by-side choices in context.
Match The Phrase To Your Audience
Every audience has a comfort zone. A research board may prefer a stately tone. A customer-support page benefits from short, bright lines. If you write across teams, keep a few sample sentences handy so editors can align on the tone they want.
When in doubt, test. Share two versions with readers: one with short links, one with a mix. Ask which reads faster and keeps meaning intact. Pick the winner and keep moving.
When The Longer Link Helps
Sometimes a longer link prevents a stumble. Readers may misread a short infinitive if several verbs pile up. A slightly longer bridge can slow the pace just enough for clarity. Read this pair:
- Short: They paused reviews to verify data.
- Clearer in context: They paused reviews in order to verify data.
If your sentence contains a string of short words, a longer bridge can add balance. That is taste, not a rule. Use it as a tool, not a habit.
Regional And Register Nuance
Writers in the UK and Commonwealth often see the phrase in public documents and academic prose. In many US workplaces, plain to and so that dominate. None of this makes the longer link wrong. It’s a matter of house style and audience.
Readers also react to the setting. A grant proposal, a safety notice, and a social caption live on different planes. Tighten or relax the link to fit the plane you are on.
Editing Checklist You Can Apply Fast
- Scan each paragraph for long purpose links.
- Try a one-click swap to to. Keep it if meaning stays exact.
- Where a clause helps, pick so that and name the actor.
- Leave a longer link only when tone or clarity gains.
- Trim empty pads before and after the link.
Mini Rewrite Practice
Try these quick swaps. Read the revised lines out loud to feel the rhythm change.
- Original: The agency updated the FAQ so as to reflect new fees. Better: The agency updated the FAQ to reflect new fees.
- Original: We added a banner in order to guide new users. Better: We added a banner so that new users can find the start button.
- Original: The manager spoke slowly so as not to confuse attendees. Better: The manager spoke slowly to avoid confusing attendees.
- Original: Logs were reviewed in order to locate the error. Better: The team reviewed logs to locate the error.
Clarity With Negatives And Long Objects
Negatives and long objects can blur meaning. Keep the action close to its purpose and avoid piling modifiers between them. If the object is long, move the purpose link earlier or choose a clause with so that to keep the line steady.
Example with a long object: “We changed the onboarding email for teams with complex approvals so that new managers can reach the dashboard on the first day.” The clause keeps the goal in sight even though the object runs long.
House Style And Consistency
Once a team picks a default link, apply it across sets of pages. Readers notice when one page uses a lean pattern and the next swings formal without a need. Consistency speeds reading and keeps support requests down.
Tiny Style Notes That Help
- Use the negative form with care; “to avoid” is short and clear.
- Keep nouns concrete near the link; vague nouns blur the goal.
- Read your line once for sound; clunky rhythm often signals extra words.
- Prefer active voice unless a passive frame serves a clear need.
Final Take
The phrase carries a formal flavor that suits policies, reports, and other careful text. For day-to-day writing, pick the leaner link unless the venue or your style guide asks for something weightier. You’ll keep rhythm, conserve space, and make your meaning plain.