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Re: Writing test Fridays

Subject: Re: Writing test Fridays
From: "Pro TechWriter" <pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: "Brierley, Sean" <Sean -dot- Brierley -at- ipc -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 15:41:55 -0500

Well, like I said the first time, I beg to differ. Ending a sentence with a
preposition is not "wrong," although it is commonly believed that it is.

Quoted directly from the Chicago Manual of Style Online:
5.169Ending a sentence with a preposition

The traditional caveat of yesteryear against ending sentences with
prepositions is, for most writers, an unnecessary and pedantic restriction.
As Winston Churchill famously said, "That is the type of arrant pedantry up
with which I shall not put." A sentence that ends in a preposition may sound
more natural than a sentence carefully constructed to avoid a final
preposition. Compare *Those are the guidelines an author should adhere to*with
*Those are the guidelines to which an author should adhere*. The
"rule"prohibiting terminal prepositions was an ill-founded
superstition.
Happy President's Day!

PT
*(Past College Technical Writing Teacher, Editor, Teaching Assistant and
English 101 Tutor)
*

On 2/16/07, Brierley, Sean <Sean -dot- Brierley -at- ipc -dot- com> wrote:


Well, recasting the phrase wouldn't hurt, "We want to see your best, so
as you work, keep in mind we are looking for the following qualities:."

On principle, I wouldn't mind if more tech writers were a little more
grounded in grammar. Seriously. So being aware there might be a problem
ending a sentence with a preposition is a good thing, the next step,
obviously, is to learn what to do next.

Cheers,

Sean


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Follow-Ups:

References:
Writing test Fridays: From: Kelley Greenman
Re: Writing test Fridays: From: Pro TechWriter
RE: Writing test Fridays: From: Brierley, Sean

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