Is it considered informal to omit "that" in "so ... that ..."? What would style guides say about the following?
John is so intelligent (that) he can learn any language in two months.
If this omission is used alongside a formal structure, would a stylistic mismatch arise?
The building is of such size and grandeur, (that) everyone feels great awe when they first see it.
Some style guides, notably The New Fowler's Modern English Usage and The Cambridge Guide to English Usage, both claim that should be retained in formal contexts involving compound conjunctions. Examples are offered below:
What would he do now (that) he had missed him in Toulouse?
The heat was up so high (that) almost everyone took off their coats.
We were so exhausted (that) we didn’t care.
They would be there provided (that) we did all the catering.
Do you agree with their judgments on these sentences? If so and if you still think that can be omitted in formal contexts involving compound conjunctions, could you provide some working guidelines about its omission?
I'd appreciate your help.
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