Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 0 down vote favorite

What is the double meaning/meanings of this?

share|improve this question

1 Answer

up vote 5 down vote

Prescriptivists say you can't end a sentence with a preposition. The example sentence does.

share|improve this answer
1  
However, go right ahead with ending a preposition or clause with a preposition!! – compman Apr 27 '11 at 18:13
Since you can't end a Latin sentence with a preposition, the early prescriptive grammarians (like Bishop Lowth) decided it was wrong to do so in English. And everybody has pretty much ignored the "rule" ever since. However, the last word of a sentence is a great place to put a strong word, and a preposition will often end a sentence weakly. Expert English users will finish with a preposition when doing so hits the idiom. – The Raven Apr 27 '11 at 19:50
I was told at a young age, "Never end a sentence a preposition with." – mickeyf Apr 27 '11 at 20:04
@all commenters: there's a question for that. Let's not rehash it all here. – RegDwighт♦ Apr 27 '11 at 20:59
2  
I'd like to add that this well-known prescriptivist rule is a bit of a straw man fallacy: the more sophisticated, reasonable prescriptivists do not support this rule. I don't think I've ever met someone who would, and I knows me some prescriptivists. – Cerberus Apr 27 '11 at 22:15

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.