So

[Allen165]

A sentence from a textbook:

"Since so much of economic and commercial activity could be banned if the legislature chose, this theory could authorize a ban on advertising these activities as well."

Shouldn't "chose" be preceded by "so"?

Thanks.

 

[TheParser]

A sentence from a textbook:

"Since so much of economic and commercial activity could be banned if the legislature chose, this theory could authorize a ban on advertising these activities as well."

Shouldn't "chose" be preceded by "so"?

Thanks.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Good morning, Jasmin.

(1) I have been waiting for someone to answer you, for these fine points of English interest me, too.

(2) As I type this, nobody else has replied, so may I inform you of what I found out:

(a) First, a minor point:

Did you forget to type: this IN theory.....

(b) One very acknowledgeable person told me:

(i) Your use of "so chose" is fine.

(ii) He found 605 examples of "he so chooses" in books. google

(iii) He found 368 examples of "he chooses to do so" in books, google.

(iv) If I understood him correctly, he would rather recast your sentence something like (this is my idea -- not his):

Since the legislature could choose to ban so much commercial activity, this in theory could....

(c) I then received a communication from a lady who teaches English to many international students. Her views:

(i) The "so" is not necessary.

(ii) "so chose" is extra-formal.

(a) might be "jarring" to the ears for most people who are not accustomed to such elegant language.

(b) Some other constructions:

if the legislature chose to = most conversational; least formal.

if the legislature chose to so do = stilted; legalistic.

if the legislature chose to do so = more "natural sounding"; most "elegant" because not "jarring.."

I hope that I represented correctly the views of my two correspondents.

Have nice day!

P. S. I realize that this was not "your" sentence -- but one from a textbook.

 

[Allen165]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Good morning, Jasmin.

(1) I have been waiting for someone to answer you, for these fine points of English interest me, too.

(2) As I type this, nobody else has replied, so may I inform you of what I found out:

(a) First, a minor point:

Did you forget to type: this IN theory.....

(b) One very acknowledgeable person told me:

(i) Your use of "so chose" is fine.

(ii) He found 605 examples of "he so chooses" in books. google

(iii) He found 368 examples of "he chooses to do so" in books, google.

(iv) If I understood him correctly, he would rather recast your sentence something like (this is my idea -- not his):

Since the legislature could choose to ban so much commercial activity, this in theory could....

(c) I then received a communication from a lady who teaches English to many international students. Her views:

(i) The "so" is not necessary.

(ii) "so chose" is extra-formal.

(a) might be "jarring" to the ears for most people who are not accustomed to such elegant language.

(b) Some other constructions:

if the legislature chose to = most conversational; least formal.

if the legislature chose to so do = stilted; legalistic.

if the legislature chose to do so = more "natural sounding"; most "elegant" because not "jarring.."

I hope that I represented correctly the views of my two correspondents.

Have nice day!

P. S. I realize that this was not "your" sentence -- but one from a textbook.

Thank you very much for the research you've done and your extensive reply.

No, I did not forget to type "in." "[T]his theory" probably refers to a theory that was mentioned in the previous sentence. (I don't have the textbook at home, so I don't know.)

I actually thought "so" was obligaory in such a construction -- but now I know better (although it does sound better to me with "so").

Thanks.

 

[Allen165]

I thought "so chose" was an elliptical way of saying "chose to do so."

 

[Raymott]

I thought "so chose" was an elliptical way of saying "chose to do so."

It is, but you don't need "so". "Chose" implicitly means "chose to do so" in this case.
In a legal document, "so" would not be out of place.

 

[ianhood]

note to Parser: By 'acknowledgeable' you mean 'knowledgeable' I suppose?

 

[TheParser]

note to Parser: By 'acknowledgeable' you mean 'knowledgeable' I suppose?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Good morning, Ianhood.

(1) Thank you for the correction.

(2) I shall try to be more careful next time.

(3) I shall not edit my mistake. I shall assume that anyone who reads this

thread will read every post.

Thank you very much.

 

[Allen165]

I have a follow-up question. Is "so" necessary in the following sentence?

If you so wish, I can send you the CD I mentioned in my previous e-mail.

Thanks.

 

[Raymott]

I have a follow-up question. Is "so" necessary in the following sentence?

If you so wish, I can send you the CD I mentioned in my previous e-mail.

Thanks.

No. It's the same situation. It's optional. But in this context it sounds too formal.