so much vs. as much

[navi tasan]

a. We used to eat out every night. We don't eat out as much these days, but we still eat out a lot.
b. We used to eat out every night. We don't eat out so much these days, but we still eat out a lot.

Are both of the above acceptable, meaningful and logical?
Do they mean the same?

I think in this context they do, but on its own 'We don't eat so much these days.' would mean 'we don't eat out a lot'.

So I think
c. We used to eat out every night. We don't eat out so much these days.

is ambiguous.

It could mean 'we don't eat out as much as we used to' (maybe we still eat out a lot), and it could also mean 'we don't eat out a lot'.

Would you say I am correct?

 

[emsr2d2]

Stick with "as much" in the contexts where you means "as much as ..." and you'll never be wrong.

 

[jutfrank]

I think you're asking whether 'not so much' can be used to mean 'not very much'. The answer is yes, it can.

 

[5jj]

c. We used to eat out every night. We don't eat out so much these days.

is ambiguous.

It could mean 'we don't eat out as much as we used to' (maybe we still eat out a lot), and it could also mean 'we don't eat out a lot'.

Would you say I am correct?

You are.

 

[Barque]

So I think
c. We used to eat out every night. We don't eat out so much these days.

is ambiguous.

It's ambiguous without context. Here, it's clear that you mean "not as much as before".

I'd still prefer sentence (a), but not because (b) is ambiguous.