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Tell me please what the difference between the following sentences.

You do your job well, but if you do it my way, it would be better.

You do your job well, but if you do it my way, it would be all the better.

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2 Answers 2

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In the better we have a relict instrumental with adverbial force which can be paraphrased using the preposition by: by that much the better, by so much the better. In all the better, the word all means "entirely or completely". The upshot: the improvement is receiving greater approbation relative to the simple better. It could be paraphrased as even better.

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    Too complex for my taste. That said, "All the better" cannot be broken up in order to understand it.
    – Lambie
    Aug 30, 2018 at 17:50
  • All the more reason to point out that in constructions like this, all the is an intensifier. Every now and then you find yourself needing to go further than better, but not so far as best. In which context I've definitely heard things like I feel much more betterer now, thanks. Aug 30, 2018 at 17:51
  • @Lambie: But "it's just colloquial" doesn't quite do it justice. Language changes over time. English used to be a declined language, like German, with nominative, dative, accusative, instrumental, and genitive cases. We still have some vestigial cases, and some fossils like this.
    – TimR
    Aug 30, 2018 at 18:18
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    I see no reason to go overboard at this level. The big bad wolf said; The better to see you with but also: all the better to see you with. Depending on the translation.
    – Lambie
    Aug 30, 2018 at 18:21
  • @Lambie: All you said in your answer was that all the better "is just colloquial". Sometimes a little complexity is better than an oversimplification.
    – TimR
    Aug 30, 2018 at 21:01
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better is a comparative, standard grammar

Example: It would be better [as opposed to good or best] if you did this rather than that.

"all the better" is just colloquial, spoken language and idiomatic.

website containing a list of idioms from a former ESL teacher called Kate

all the better for (something) If you are all the better for something, you benefit from it or feel much better as a result of it. "You'll be all the better for a good night's rest."

On the link page, you can click on the letter she has written to users.

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