Again at the End of a Sentence

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The Quick And Dirty

Although many people were taught to avoid catastrophe a sentence with a preposition, nigh all mod style guides say it's non a rule, and if your judgement sounds more natural with a preposition at the terminate, it'due south fine to get out it that mode.

One of the most frequent questions I'm asked is whether it's acceptable to end a judgement with a preposition.

I know many of you were taught that y'all shouldn't end a sentence with a preposition, but that's a myth. In fact, I consider information technology one of the height ten grammar myths because then many people believe it'south truthful, but nearly all grammarians disagree, at least in some cases (i, ii, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8).

So before I lose you, allow's back up. What is a preposition?

What Is a Preposition?

A preposition is a word that creates a relationship between other words. Information technology's been said that prepositions often deal with infinite and time (1), which always makes me think of "Star Trek."

For instance, the prepositions "above," "by," and "over" all say something about a position in space:

• The pic is higher up the fireplace."
• The nightstand is by the bed.

And the prepositions "earlier," "subsequently," and "since" all say something about fourth dimension:

• We went for a walk before dinner.
• We had dessert after dinner.

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When Can a Sentence Cease with a Preposition?

And so what about ending a sentence with a preposition?

Here'south an example of a sentence that tin can end with a preposition:

• What did you footstep on?

An important point is that the judgement doesn't work if you get out off the preposition. You lot can't say, "What did yous step?" You need to say, "What did yous footstep on?" to make a grammatical sentence.

I tin can hear some of you gnashing your teeth correct now while you recollect, "What nearly proverb, 'On what did you footstep?'" Simply actually, have you always heard anyone talk that way? I've read long, contorted arguments from noted grammarians well-nigh why it's OK to end sentences with prepositions when the preposition isn't extraneous (i), merely the driving point yet seems to be, "Nobody actually talks this fashion." Yes, you could say, "On what did you footstep?" but non even grammarians think you should. Information technology normally sounds pedantic.

When Can't You Terminate a Sentence with a Preposition?

Simply, you lot can't always end sentences with prepositions. Equally I said final week, I recommend that when you could leave off the preposition and information technology wouldn't change the meaning, it'southward best to leave it off.

People do use unnecessary prepositions at the end of sentences when they talk, as in the question "Where are you at?" that we talked virtually last week. And every bit I said, there's even a reason because English used to have 3 different words for "where"—"where," "whither," and "whence"—and because of "whither" and "whence," you could almost predict that people would end up maxim "where at."

But, and this is a large "but," the "at" at the end of "Where are you at?" jumps out at a lot of people who care virtually language because the "at" is unnecessary. If you lot ask "Where are yous?," it ways the same affair, and the general feeling is that considering  the "at" is unnecessary, you should go out information technology off.

Unnecessary Prepositions

The problem with unnecessary prepositions doesn't happen only at the end of sentences either. People oft throw unneeded prepositions into the middle of sentences, and some people call back that'due south bad too (2). Instead of proverb "Squiggly jumped off of the dock," it's better to say "Squiggly jumped off the dock." You lot encounter? Y'all don't demand to say "off of the dock"; "off the dock" says the same thing without the extra preposition.

Some other example is "outside of" when "exterior" by itself would do merely fine. You can say, "He'south outside the door," not, "He's exterior of the door."

Sentences Can End with Prepositions from Phrasal Verbs

So far, my examples of prepositions at the end of sentences have all been questions. Lest you think they're a special case, nosotros'll look at some sentences that aren't questions.

English language has a blazon of verb called a phrasal verb. These are verbs fabricated upwards of multiple words, and i is ordinarily a preposition. "Cheer up," "run over," "log on," and "leave off" are all examples of phrasal verbs, and oftentimes sentences that apply phrasal verbs end with a preposition:

• I wish he would cheer upwardly.
• Yous should exit it off.

Those are perfectly adequate sentences, and some people argue that the words at the cease aren't even prepositions. They're adverbs that modify the verb.

Other Sentences Can Cease with Prepositions Likewise

I don't religiously avert ending sentences with prepositions anymore. If a sentence sounds bad-mannered when I rewrite information technology the "right" mode, I leave information technology with a preposition at the stop. For instance, I wouldn't rewrite this sentence.

• She displayed the practiced humor she'south known for. (That could be rewritten every bit "She displayed the good sense of humor for which she's known," but that sounds too stuffy to me.)

And here'southward one more:

• I want to know where he came from. (That could exist rewritten equally "I desire to know from where he came," only I wouldn't do it.)

Embrace Letter Grammer

I said you don't demand to rewrite those sentences, and I don't, merely because the myth that it's wrong to end sentences with prepositions is so prevalent, there are times when y'all should avoid doing it even though I'k maxim it isn't incorrect.

For instance, when you're writing a cover letter to a potential employer, don't end a judgement with a preposition. The person reading the letter could see it equally an error. I always recommend following the most conservative grammar rules in chore applications. I'd rather be hired than lose an opportunity because my grammar was perceived equally wrong.

But once you're hired, and you're in a position to take a discussion near grammar, don't be afraid to do your part to dispel ane of the top ten grammar myths, and end sentences with prepositions when information technology sounds best as long as the preposition isn't unnecessary and as long as it won't hurt your credibility with readers.

Only you (or your boss) can determine whether your audition is probable to notice or care. And if you need back-upwards, you lot tin can show your boss almost whatever good style guide. They all say there'due south no hard-and-fast rule nigh not ending a sentence with a preposition.

References

1. Huddleston, R. and Pullman, G.K. A Pupil's Introduction to English Grammar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Printing, 2006, p. twenty, 137-8.
2. Strumpf, M. and Douglas, A. The Grammar Bible. New York: Henry Holt and Visitor, 2004,  p. 231, 217.
3. Thurman, S. The Only Grammar Book You'll E'er Need. Avon: Adams Media, 2003, p.32.
4. Stilman, A. Grammatically Correct. Cincinnati: Writer'due south Digest Books, 2004, p.264.
5. O'Connor, P. "The Living Expressionless: Allow Bygone Rules Exist Gone" Grammarphobia.com, http://www.grammarphobia.com/grammar.html (accessed December 2, 2020).
6. Lutz, Chiliad. and Stevenson, D. Grammar Desk Reference. Cincinnati: Writer's Digest Books, 2005, p. 41.
7. Garner, B. Garner's Modern American Usage. Oxford University Press, 2009, p. 654.
8. Wilson, One thousand. Thou. The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. New York: Columbia University Press, 1993, p. 341.

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