Are Sentences Ending in Prepositions Really Something to Be Wary Of?
“Correct” English is full of stumbling blocks, the main one being a sentence ending in a preposition. For example, a question like this: Are sentences ending in prepositions really worrying?
In truth, it depends on the context in which you write, but there are some rules to understand to better inform your decision if and when you feel the need to end your sentence with as , of , for, or hundreds of other words that fall into into the gray area of grammar.
First, what is a preposition?
Before we dive in, let’s define this term, courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary:
A word or group of words, such as “from,” “from,” “from,” and “ from name,” used before a noun or pronoun to indicate a place, position, time, or method.
These are the most common prepositions that we usually think of when we think of this term. But there are more than 100 of them in English, as there are many ways to demonstrate the place, position, time or method used by a noun.
Why is it so hard?
Another avant-garde of the English language, the University of Cambridge, points to the most commonly used other prepositions, which include about, near, near, above, between, across, outside, against, despite, on, as opposed to, along, down, opposite and many, many others.
A point worth discussing when you talk about prepositions: Prepositions often become conjunctions when they are followed by a subordinate clause. Cambridge explains how it works:
When we use a preposition followed by a sentence, it acts like a conjunction; when we use a preposition followed by a noun phrase, it remains a preposition.
In order not to confuse novice grammatical snobs, the university gives an example of the current rule:
We just have to wait until they decide what to do. (compound)
Okay, we’ll wait here until six o’clock. (pretext)
Sure, you can go pretty far down the grammatical rabbit hole if you want, but understanding the basics can give you enough to help you write.
So is it okay to end a sentence with a preposition?
Basically, yes, it’s okay to end a sentence with a preposition, although you might want to avoid this in some more formal contexts. After all, in a less formal situation, no one is going to throw you in jail or be tried for finishing your sentence with “out.” And as Grammarly points out, it all depends on what you write:
In emails, text messages, and notes for friends, this is great. But if you’re writing a research paper or submitting a business proposal and you want it to sound very formal, don’t end the sentences with pretexts.
Two exceptions when prepositions are taboo include formal writing – for example, discussing a job interview or something else professional – or when you omit something from a sentence so that your preposition is missing an object to apply a place, position, time or method.
Here’s an example of an incorrect Grammarly sentence using a preposition without an object:
He walked quickly down the street wearing a buttoned waistcoat to keep out the cold and a merry top hat.
In this case, he leaves the reader with the question “over what exactly?”, Which, yes, they could understand, but this omission is enough to interrupt the flow of the reader’s understanding. To make the preposition “on top” grammatically correct, it needs to change the object. Here’s the correct version:
He walked down the street at a brisk pace, buttoning up his waistcoat against the cold, and a merry top hat flaunted on his stately head.
In short, you can use an excuse to end a sentence, but it is advisable to do it infrequently, as it can sometimes sound a little unnatural. However, if this is something that you do from time to time in a less formal setting, it really doesn’t really matter.