I’m hoping to find out how and when native English speakers use “all the + comparative” instead of “even + comparative”. Many thanks.
“Word is he’s an excellent leader. With him stationed at the fort, the Soviet forces in the area will operate all the better.”
– vs. –
“Word is he’s an excellent leader. With him stationed at the fort, the Soviet forces in the area will operate even better.”
In your first example, it’s ambiguous as to the perspective - the Soviet perspective or the speaker’s - and makes no judgement about their current level of competency; in the latter it’s unambiguous that the Soviet forces operate at an already good level and that level will improve.
IANA expert.
It seems to me that “all the better” is a more archaic and/or British usage. “even better” is the current typical American usage.
I don’t think it goes much beyond that.
IMO, Quartz’s take is, while not strictly wrong, not really right. “Even better” may imply some degree of quality before the change, but that’s not the point of why an author or speaker would choose one or the other formulation.
Again, I have no expertise beyond being a native speaker of US English who reads a lot of both US & British writings of the last century or so.
American speaker.
To me, “All the better” has a hint of sassiness to it, or a little sarcasm.
“Oh, I brought my 5 friends and a 6 pack to your party!”
“All the better,” said with clenched teeth.
But I normally associate the phrase with “All the better to eat you with!”
“Even better” connotes enthusiasm to me.