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Archiver > TMG > 2005-03 > 1109702626


From: "John Cardinal" <>
Subject: RE: [TMG] Prepositions - what to do
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2005 13:43:46 -0500
In-Reply-To: <6.2.1.2.0.20050301181103.027e1ef8@pop.sprynet.com>


Darrell A. Martin wrote:
> At 05:30 PM 3/1/2005, Teresa Elliott wrote:
> >Isn't that ending a sentence with a preposition? Tsk, tsk.
> >
> >Teresa Ghee Elliott
>
> Hi, Teresa:
>
> The prohibition against ending a sentence with a preposition
> is a Latin rule of grammar that English (as spoken, even by
> the educated) has never subscribed to. English uses
> prepositions adverbially all the time, making a preposition
> something it is perfectly acceptable to end a sentence with.
>
> Darrell
>
> P.S. You may chuckle that I ended my paragraph with a
> preposition. Did you notice I ended *both* sentences that way?

Darrell,

You asked for it! <g>

I won't argue whether or not English grammatical rules forbid the use of a
preposition at the end of a sentence. However, both sentences in your
message seem a little awkward and could be improved easily. I usually find
that to be the case; a sentence that ends with a preposition is a little
awkward and restructuring the sentence improves it.

"English speakers, highly educated or not, do not follow the Latin rule
against ending a sentence with a preposition. English uses prepositions
adverbially all the time, making a preposition perfectly acceptable at the
end of a sentence."

Of course, this post is just payback for the corrections you make to my SS
help files! <g> And I know I am opening myself up to well educated writers
who will correct my correction!

John

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