We can use the phrases “so I did” and “so did I” in very different ways. While they might look synonymously, you definitely shouldn’t treat them as such. This article will look at the differences between them to help you with your writing.
What Is The Difference Between “So I Did” And “So Did I”?
“So I did” is correct when a situation was created or set up that allowed you to “do” a specific action. You can use “so I did” after explaining what the setup was. “So did I” is correct when you are stating you “did” the same as somebody else.
But, if you’re not quite following along, it’s always better to check out some easy to understand examples:
- I was told to invite him to this event, so I did.
- I did that already.
- So did I.
These examples demonstrate exactly what the meanings are between them. “So I did” only works when we’ve previously established a means or method that led to us “doing” something.
“So did I” is more informal, and we use it to agree with someone or show that we also “did” something that someone else did.
What Does “So I Did” Mean?
Let’s check the meanings of the words out a little closer. That way, you’ll have more of an understanding of what to expect.
“So I did” works once a setup or situation has been stated. We use it mainly as a secondary clause in a sentence (at the end) to show that we “did” a specific action that somebody might have asked us to do.
If we do not establish what somebody asked us to do, then “so I did” wouldn’t make grammatical sense. It needs to follow a specific clause before using it correctly.
Here are a few examples that should make it more clear:
- He told me to get out of there, so I did.
- You wanted me to go to the store to buy you some fruit, so I did.
- She asked me to solve the equation, so I did. Apparently, it was unsolvable, and yet I managed it.
- I needed to do my homework, so I did it. It’s that simple, really.
- You asked me to get you some aspirin, so I did. Why are you yelling at me now?
- They wanted me to do something ridiculous for them, so I did. I’m glad they could laugh about it.
- I needed to get a few things done before I left to come here, so I did those things first.
As you can see, “so I did” isn’t always a final phrase. We do not have to end the sentence directly after it.
Sometimes, we can say something like “so I did just that” or “so I did these things” to help us be a little more specific about what we mean.
What Does “So Did I” Mean?
“So did I” is the more informal and colloquial phrase we can use. It works best when agreeing with someone or showing that we also did something that someone else might have mentioned.
“So did I” means that we did something that might relate to someone else. It’s usually a responsive phrase that works best when someone has said they have done something, and we want to agree with them and say we did it.
Generally, “so did I” does not work on its own. It always needs to work as a response to a specific question or action.
As question responses, it works like this:
- I did a lot of the work for next week already.
- So did I!
- I thought you already did all of it!
- So did I! Clearly, I didn’t!
- I knew that it wasn’t going to be easy for us to get this done.
- So did I! Yet, here we are.
As actions, we might just use the following sentences:
- He told me that he did it, and so did I.
- She wanted to get it done, and so did I. That’s why we worked together to complete it.
- You needed his help, but so did I. I’m sorry that he chose me over you.
Can “So I Did” And “So Did I” Be Used Interchangeable?
“So I did” and “so did I” are not interchangeable. While they are made up of the same words, the sentence structures do not work in the same manner. One is used to answer a question or response, while the other is used to show that you completed something.
Is “So I Did” Or “So Did I” Used The Most?
It might help to check out some statistics to see which of the two phrases is more common. This might help you to understand which one you’re more likely to come across.
According to Google Ngram Viewer, “so I did” is the most popular choice of the two. It’s vastly more popular than “so did I,” showing that we’re more likely to state a situation and then show that we did it rather than informally agree with someone’s actions.
Does “As Did I” Mean The Same As “So Did I” Or “So I Did”?
What happens if we swap “so” with “as?” Do the same meanings still hold true?
“As did I” and “so did I” are synonymous. They both work as a response to show that you did something the same way as someone else. “As did I” is more formal since “as” comes with more formal language cues.
We can use them interchangeably like so:
- I did a few things around the house.
- So did I.
- I did a few things around the house.
- As did I.
Is It Ever Correct To Use “I Did So”?
“I did so” is sometimes correct. It’s another way of writing “so I did,” but it’s not nearly as common. Most people prefer to write “so” at the start to show intention.
However, these examples will help you understand it:
- I was told to get dressed and come downstairs, so I did.
- I was told to get dressed and come downstairs. I did so.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.