Learn English – the correct usage? “Ever so often” or “Every so often”

grammaticalityword-choice

A colleague asked to check in with me every couple of weeks. I would like to respond that it would be wonderful if they checked in ever so often. But, I don't believe that sounds correct. How should I phrase it?

Best Answer

Ever so is a rather archaic way of indicating degree, as in "I like picnics ever so much!" It is something you might hear Dorothy say to the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.

If you hear it used to mean every so, the speaker is probably dropping the -y from the end of every. What you're hearing is probably:

It'd be wonderful if they checked in ever' so often.

I've heard the -y elided in this way in the southern and western regions of the U.S.

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