Formidable Of

[Milliep]

"How formidable a team are they?" "How formidable of a team are they?"

Is one of them common but incorrect/nonstandard? I heard (and read) both versions everywhere.

[ribran]

Is one of them common but incorrect/nonstandard? I heard (and read) both versions everywhere.

Yes, the structure "how + adjective + of + a + noun" is common but nonstandard.

[5jj]

the structure "how + adjective + of + a + noun" is common but nonstandard.

It is not common, and it is incorrect, as is 'how much of a + adjective'.

[ribran]

It is not common, and it is incorrect, as is 'how much of a + adjective'.

It is very common in colloquial speech in the United States.

[5jj]

It is very common in colloquial speech in the United States.

Sorry. I was wrong - you are right.

With 133 citations in COCA for "how + adjective + of + a + noun", it is not nearly as common as "how + adjective a + noun" with 1065, but it is certainy not rare.