法律英语：20 Ending a Sentence With a Preposition

Today's topic is prepositions. Here's a typical listener question:

I wanted to know if you could do a podcast on not ending a sentence with prepositions.

Just as Harry 1 Potter was unfairly labeled “undesirable number one” in the latest J.K. Rowling book, ending a sentence with a preposition is often unfairly labeled “undesirable grammar construction number one” by people who were taught that prepositions have a proper place in the world, and it's not at the end of a sentence.

I'm going to start calling this “grammar myth number one” because nearly all grammarians agree that it's fine to end sentences with prepositions, at least in some cases (1, 2, 3, 4).

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

What is a Preposition?

A preposition is a word that creates a relationship between other words.  It's been said that prepositions often deal with space and time (1), which always makes me think of Star Trek 2. For example, the prepositions above, by, and over all say something about a position in space; the prepositions before, after, and since all say something about time.

Here's an example of a sentence that can end with a preposition: What did you step on? A key point, you might say the Quick and Dirty Tip, is that the sentence doesn't work if you leave off the preposition. You can't say, “What did you step?” You need to say, “What did you step on?” to make a grammatical sentence.

I can hear some of you gnashing your teeth right now, while you think, “What about saying, 'On what did you step?'” But really, have you ever heard anyone talk that way? I've read long, contorted arguments from noted 3 grammarians about why it's OK to end sentences with prepositions when the preposition isn't extraneous 4 (1), but the driving point still seems to be, “Nobody in their right mind talks this way.” Yes, you could say, “On what did you step?” but not even grammarians think you should.

But, you can't always end sentences with prepositions. When you could leave off the preposition and it wouldn't change the meaning, you should leave it off. Really, I can't believe anyone would make such a silly mistake! 

Hi Grammar girl, this is Brian and Alley 5 from Iowa City, IA, and we were just wondering, in your last episode, you said, “That's where it's at.” Is that correct? We thought you couldn't end sentences with prepositions.

Ahem. That voice-mail message is at least four months old. I'm going to pretend I'm testifying before congress and say that I have no recollection of saying such a thing.

But if I did say, “That's where it's at.” I'm so sorry—the horror—because that is one of the instances where it's not OK to end a sentence with a preposition! I need to do some kind of grammar penance 6 such as memorizing all the academic grammar words that start with i: imperative 7 clause, indefinite article, idiot . . . .

The problem is that the sentence That's where it's at doesn't need the preposition. If you open the contraction 8 “it-apostrophe-s” and say “That's where it is,” it means the same thing as That's where it’s at. So the at is unnecessary.

Unnecessary Prepositions

The problem with unnecessary prepositions doesn't just happen at the end of sentences. People often throw extraneous prepositions into the middle of sentences, and they really shouldn't (2). Instead of saying Squiggly jumped off of the dock, it's better to say Squiggly jumped off the dock. You see? You don't need to say off of the dock; off the dock says the same thing without the preposition. A listener wrote in saying he often hears people say outside of when outside by itself would do just fine, and he's right. You should say, “He's outside the door,” not, “He's outside of the door.”

To get back to the main point, the bottom line is that many people think it's wrong, so I wouldn't advise ending sentences with prepositions in critical situations, for example, you shouldn't do it in a cover letter for a job you really want. I always say, “It's better to be employed than right.” But once you're hired, end away, and do your part to dispel 9 grammar myth number one.

Announcements

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