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such

Word order​

Such is used with nouns and noun phrases. It comes before a/an.

  • such people
  • such interesting ideas
  • such a decision (not a such decision)

‘of this/that kind’​

Such can mean ‘like this/that’, ‘of this/that kind’. This is most common in a formal style, with abstract nouns.

  • The committee wishes to raise fees. I would oppose such a decision.
  • There are various forms of secret writing. Such systems are called ‘codes’.

In an informal style, and with concrete nouns, we prefer like this/that or this/that kind of.

  • … systems like this are called …
  • He’s got an old Rolls-Royce. I’d like a car like that. (not I’d like such a car.)

High degree​

Another use of such is to talk about a high degree of some quality. In this sense, such is common before adjective + noun.

  • I’m sorry you had such a bad journey. (= You had a very bad journey, and I’m sorry.)
  • It was a pleasure to meet such interesting people.

Such is also possible with this meaning before a noun alone, when the noun has an emphatic descriptive meaning.

  • I’m glad your concert was such a success.
  • Why did she make such a fuss about the dates?

such and very, great, etc​

Very, great and similar words are also used to talk about a high degree of some quality. The difference is that they give new information; such (= like this/that) normally refers to information that is already known. Compare:

  • I’ve had a very bad day. (giving information)
    Why did you have such a bad day? (The information is already known.)
  • The weather was very cold.
    I wasn’t expecting such cold weather.
  • There was great confusion
    Why was there such confusion?

However, in a very informal style such can also be used to mean ‘very’ or ‘great’, especially in exclamations.

  • She has such a marvellous voice!
  • He’s such an idiot!

such … that; such … as to​

Structures with very cannot be followed directly by that-clauses. Instead, we can use such … that.

  • It was such a cold afternoon that we stopped playing. (not It was a very cold afternoon that …)

There is also a structure with such followed by … + as to + infinitive. This is formal and not very common.

  • It was such a loud noise as to wake everybody in the house. (Less formal: … such a loud noise that it woke …)

such as​

Such as is used to introduce examples.

  • My doctor told me to avoid fatty foods such as bacon or hamburgers.

such-and-such​

Note this informal expression.

  • She’s always telling you that she’s met such-and-such a famous person. (= … one or other famous person.)