Prepositions Are Not to End Sentences With: Difference between revisions
Prepositions Are Not to End Sentences With (view source)
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{{trope}}{{Mechanics of Writing}}
{{quote|''That is the kind of arrant pedantry up with which I will not put.''
|'''[[Authors of Quote|Attributed]] to [[Winston Churchill]] on being criticized for this'''}}
A preposition, a specific type of [[wikipedia:Preposition and postposition|adposition]], is a word describing a relationship between two nouns. These include words such as "on", "to", "beneath", "before", etc.
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As noted in the link, the word is a lot more complex than it seems, and not every use of the words that seem like a preposition, actually is a preposition. But the most well known thing about them is that you supposedly cannot end sentences with them (also known as stranding a preposition).
This is actually applying Latin grammar rules to English, and while some of those can actually apply in the latter language (like no double negatives), this one doesn't (same with splitting infinitives. Many sentences just don't flow in English if this rule is shoehorned in (which means ending on a preposition is bad when it breaks the flow, not this "rule").
In fiction, there are different reactions to this. Who states the rule might be accused of being a [[Grammar Nazi]]. Or those called on for doing this might reply in a snarky manner. Or those called on might instead try their best to avoid breaking this rule. Basically it's [[Rule of Funny|whichever is funnier]].
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Can often invoke [[In Which a Trope Is Described]], the title of which is the grammatically correct expression of 'a trope is described in'.
{{examples}}
== [[Comic Books]] ==
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== [[Web Comics]] ==
* In one of the ''[[The Order of the Stick]]'' comics that appeared in ''Dragon'' magazine, Vaarsuvius rages at a pair of undead who end ''every single sentence'' with a preposition. When Durkon reproaches V for acting like an uptight English teacher, Vaarsuvius replies, "[[Translation Convention|What is this English you speak]] [[Hypocritical Humor|of?"]]
== [[Web Original]] ==
* In his column, [https://web.archive.org/web/20111115152828/http://www.theatermania.com/peterfilichia/ Peter Filichia] objected to a lyric from "[[Dirty Rotten Scoundrels|Great Big Stuff]]" because he felt that the character wouldn't use a sentence that ended with a preposition. The composer later [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/news/06-2005/lyrical-cure_6108.html wrote to him] and defended his lyric by saying the line [[Rule of Funny|just made him laugh]].
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Language Tropes]]
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