Anthony Pritchard
Well-Known Member
Ending A Sentence
Journal Entry 10-10-2023
Ending a sentence with a preposition is frowned upon in Latin, but was never originally taboo in English.
This "rule" about not ending sentences with prepositions in English was borrowed from Latin, largely thanks to the influence of 17th-century writer and grammarian John Dryden.
Here’s the story behind the grammatical myth:
Latin Roots and English Borrowing
- Latin grammar prohibits ending sentences with prepositions because Latin syntax doesn’t allow preposition stranding. That is, prepositions must precede their objects.
- English, however, is a Germanic language and naturally allows preposition stranding. Phrases like "What are you talking about?" or "That’s the person I was waiting for" are perfectly natural in English.
Enter John Dryden
- In 1672, poet and critic John Dryden criticized another writer, Ben Jonson, for ending a sentence with a preposition. Dryden, a Latin scholar, believed English should emulate Latin’s structure and elegance.
- His influence helped popularize the idea that ending a sentence with a preposition was incorrect, even though it had been common in English before.
The Rule That Wasn’t
- Other grammarians followed Dryden’s lead, and the "rule" made its way into grammar books and classrooms.
- But modern linguists agree: there’s no grammatical reason to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition in English. In fact, trying to avoid it can lead to awkward constructions, like Churchill’s famous quip:
"This is the sort of nonsense up with which I will not put."
A Legacy of Linguistic Preference
So, the prohibition was an artificial import from Latin, not a native English rule. And it’s a perfect example of how language "rules" often reflect stylistic preferences more than linguistic necessity.
~Tony
© A.K. Pritchard 2026 - Free to use with proper attribution.
Journal Entry 10-10-2023
Ending a sentence with a preposition is frowned upon in Latin, but was never originally taboo in English.
This "rule" about not ending sentences with prepositions in English was borrowed from Latin, largely thanks to the influence of 17th-century writer and grammarian John Dryden.
Here’s the story behind the grammatical myth:
Latin Roots and English Borrowing
- Latin grammar prohibits ending sentences with prepositions because Latin syntax doesn’t allow preposition stranding. That is, prepositions must precede their objects.
- English, however, is a Germanic language and naturally allows preposition stranding. Phrases like "What are you talking about?" or "That’s the person I was waiting for" are perfectly natural in English.
Enter John Dryden
- In 1672, poet and critic John Dryden criticized another writer, Ben Jonson, for ending a sentence with a preposition. Dryden, a Latin scholar, believed English should emulate Latin’s structure and elegance.
- His influence helped popularize the idea that ending a sentence with a preposition was incorrect, even though it had been common in English before.
The Rule That Wasn’t
- Other grammarians followed Dryden’s lead, and the "rule" made its way into grammar books and classrooms.
- But modern linguists agree: there’s no grammatical reason to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition in English. In fact, trying to avoid it can lead to awkward constructions, like Churchill’s famous quip:
"This is the sort of nonsense up with which I will not put."
A Legacy of Linguistic Preference
So, the prohibition was an artificial import from Latin, not a native English rule. And it’s a perfect example of how language "rules" often reflect stylistic preferences more than linguistic necessity.
~Tony
© A.K. Pritchard 2026 - Free to use with proper attribution.
