In 1762, Robert Lowth invented the no-prepositions-at-the-end-of-sentences rule. It has no basis other than his ethnocentric notion that English should simulate Latin.
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Experiments in getting to the point.12 Comments »
Travis Seitler wrote @ March 13, 2008 at 9:13 am
So Mr. Piper, are you really trying to tell us that Robert Lowth was in no position to posit his preposition proposition?
Rob wrote @ March 13, 2008 at 9:16 am
The no-split-infinitives “rule” falls into the same category; it’s a feature of Latin grammar that was forced onto English (and English speakers) at some point.
So, feel free to regularly split your infinitives.
Abraham Piper wrote @ March 13, 2008 at 9:43 am
That’s right, Travis, I don’t think Lowth should have that authority. He was a part of a group of insecure prescriptive grammarians who wanted English to attain the status of Latin.
That we still submit to his arbitrary rules, teaching them to our kids, is sort of sad. It has been grammatical to end sentences with prepositions since the dawn of English and it still is.
Dave Miers wrote @ March 13, 2008 at 2:34 pm
it may be grammatically correct - but i think it’s ugly.
Abraham Piper wrote @ March 13, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Would you say it’s always ugly to end a sentence with a preposition? Or just sometimes it’s uglier?
If you were an editor, would you correct the sentence, “I don’t know what I’m talking about”?
Is this a better option: “I don’t know about what I’m talking”?
Travis Seitler wrote @ March 14, 2008 at 8:54 am
Grammatical snobbery is one disease I would never wish to inflict anyone with.
Mike Tong wrote @ March 14, 2008 at 9:22 am
In Chinese, we don’t have silly things like “grammar” or “words”. We just make sounds that we think best express how we feel and we are UNDERSTOOD.
Gavin wrote @ March 14, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I completely agree!
My personal favorite: “Where’s it at?”
Dan wrote @ March 17, 2008 at 10:03 am
“That is the type of arrant pedantry up with which I shall not put.” –Winston Churchill
Frank Turk wrote @ March 18, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Here’s my take:
you can tell whether or not someone is writing in one draft or two by the number of sentences which end in prepositions.
Worship Words « Worship Words wrote @ April 30, 2008 at 11:16 pm
[...] And if you notice that my grammar is not up to par it may be intentional…especially with regard to the proper use of prepositions. [...]
acme wrote @ July 2, 2008 at 9:20 am
Travis made me visit this entry just to torture me.
Personally I find that recasting the sentence to use a stronger, clearer verbs often eliminates dangling prepositions. Go ahead–end a sentence with a preposition if it’s clearer, flows better, and fits the occasion.
“Where’s it at?” fits a jeans conversation, but not a suit conversation. Clarity is the issue, not snobbery.
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