not so much that officials could steal a big sum

[Verona_82]

Hello,

I'm trying to correct a clumsy sentence and would like to know if the corrected version sounds more or less natural:

The original:
...this money is enough for renovation, but not so much that officials could steal a big sum without anyone notice it.

My try:
....this money is enough for renovation, but not so much to enable officials to steal a big part of it without anyone noticing it.

But I still don't like it. I'd be grateful for your comments.

 

[emsr2d2]

You're right, your version doesn't sound right. I think it's because "not so much that" is a standard phrase as used in the original sentence. Changing "that" to "to enable" doesn't work.

Nothing is enabling anything. It's just a statement of fact that there is a lot of money but there is not so much money that some of it going missing wouldn't be noticed.

 

[billmcd]

Hello,

I'm trying to correct a clumsy sentence and would like to know if the corrected version sounds more or less natural:

The original:
...this money is enough for renovation, but not [STRIKE]so much [/STRIKE] enough that officials could steal a [STRIKE]big[/STRIKE] large sum without anyone noticing [STRIKE] it. [/STRIKE] .

My try:
....this money is enough for renovation, but not [STRIKE]so much [/STRIKE] enough to enable officials to steal a [STRIKE]big[/STRIKE] large part [STRIKE]of it [/STRIKE]without anyone noticing [STRIKE]it. [/STRIKE] .

But I still don't like it. I'd be grateful for your comments.

Any better?

 

[Verona_82]

Thank you, billmcd and emsr2d2, for your replies. I'm glad I asked here.