In Order That in a Sentence: A Complete Guide to Purpose Clauses
The phrase in order that appears frequently in both written and spoken English, yet its precise grammatical function is often misunderstood or overlooked. Unlike more casual connectors like so or so that, in order that carries a slightly more formal tone and is often chosen when the speaker or writer wants to point out intentionality, result, or a specific objective. At its core, in order that serves as a subordinating conjunction used to introduce a purpose clause. Practically speaking, " by explaining the goal or intention behind the action in the main clause. Consider this: it answers the question "why? Understanding how to deploy this phrase correctly can elevate the clarity and sophistication of your sentences, whether you are drafting an academic essay, a professional report, or creative storytelling.
The Grammatical Framework of In Order That
To use in order that effectively, Make sure you recognize its structural role within a sentence. The conjunction typically introduces a dependent clause that expresses purpose. Consider this: it matters. This dependent clause often contains a subject and a verb, and it may appear either before or after the main clause, though the latter is more common in natural flow Nothing fancy..
"She arrived early in order that she might secure a good seat," the main clause ("She arrived early") describes the action taken, while the subordinate clause introduced by in order that ("she might secure a good seat") articulates the specific objective motivating that action. Note the use of the modal verb might here; purpose clauses following in order that frequently employ modals such as can, could, will, would, may, or might to indicate potentiality or intention rather than simple fact.
Modal Verbs and Tense Sequencing
The choice of modal verb within the in order that clause is governed by the tense of the main verb and the degree of certainty the writer wishes to convey. When the main clause is in the present or future tense, can, may, or will are standard:
The company invests heavily in R&D in order that it can maintain its competitive edge.
When the main clause is in the past tense, the modal typically shifts to its past form (could, might, would) to maintain sequence of tenses:
The diplomats worked through the night in order that they might reach an agreement before the deadline.
In highly formal or literary contexts—particularly in British English—the subjunctive mood occasionally appears, dropping the modal entirely:
The judge ordered the records sealed in order that the witness be protected. Though less common in modern daily usage, this construction persists in legal, bureaucratic, and academic registers where precision and authority are essential.
And yeah — that's actually more nuanced than it sounds.
The Negative Form: In Order That Not vs. Lest
Expressing negative purpose requires care. Here's the thing — the standard construction in order that... not is grammatically sound but can feel clunky:
*He spoke softly in order that the baby would not wake Worth keeping that in mind..
For a more concise and elegant negative purpose clause, English often prefers lest (followed by the subjunctive or should), though lest is decidedly formal and somewhat archaic:
He spoke softly lest he wake the baby. He spoke softly lest he should wake the baby.
In contemporary professional writing, rewriting the main clause to accommodate a positive purpose clause often yields better flow:
He spoke softly so as to avoid waking the baby.
Positioning and Punctuation
While the in order that clause most naturally follows the main clause, fronting it is a powerful rhetorical tool for emphasis. When the purpose clause leads the sentence, it is followed by a comma:
In order that the data remain uncorrupted, the server was taken offline immediately.
This structure places the "why" before the "what," forcing the reader to frame the subsequent action within its strategic context. It is particularly effective in executive summaries, technical manuals, and persuasive writing where the objective drives the narrative.
In Order That vs. So That vs. To
Distinguishing between these purpose connectors allows for precise register control.
- In order that: Formal, explicit, emphasizes the intention behind an action. Requires a subject and verb in the clause. Best for complex subjects or when the actor in the main clause differs from the actor in the purpose clause (The teacher repeated the instructions in order that the students would understand).
- So that: The workhorse of standard English. Less formal, highly versatile. In casual speech, that is often dropped (He left early so he could catch the train).
- To / In order to: Used when the subject of the main clause and the purpose clause are the same. These are followed by a bare infinitive, not a full clause. She arrived early to secure a seat (not in order that she could secure). Using in order that with a shared subject (She arrived early in order that she could secure a seat) is not wrong, but it is wordier and less idiomatic than the infinitive alternative.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Redundancy: Avoid pairing in order that with because or since. In order that signals purpose (future-oriented goal); because signals cause (past/present reason). Writing "He exercised in order that because he wanted to be healthy" conflates two distinct logical relationships.
- Missing Modals: A bare verb after the subject often sounds ungrammatical in modern English. "They budgeted carefully in order that they save money" sounds incomplete. Use "They budgeted carefully in order that they could/might save money."
- Confusing Purpose with Result: So that can indicate result (It rained so that the ground was wet), but in order that cannot. In order that is strictly teleological—it looks forward to an intended outcome, not backward at an accidental consequence.
Conclusion
Mastering in order that is less about memorizing a rule and more about calibrating tone and logic. It is the precision instrument in your conjunction toolkit: heavier than so that, more structured than to, and uniquely capable of separating the actor from the beneficiary of an action Small thing, real impact..
