Is It OK to End a Sentence with a Preposition?
Yes, ending a sentence with a preposition is perfectly acceptable in English. 'Where are you from?' and 'What is this about?' are natural, correct sentences. The 'rule' against terminal prepositions is a myth based on Latin grammar that does not apply to English. Rearranging to avoid final prepositions often sounds stilted and unnatural.
Key Takeaways
- Prepositions (of, to, from, with, about) frequently end English sentences, especially in questions and relative clauses.
- Unnecessary prepositions ('Where is it at?
- Very formal writing may avoid terminal prepositions as a stylistic choice.
Explanation
Prepositions (of, to, from, with, about) frequently end English sentences, especially in questions and relative clauses. 'Who should I give this to?' 'That is something I cannot agree with.' These constructions have been standard English for centuries and appear in the works of Shakespeare, Chaucer, and modern literary masters.
The 'rule' was invented in the 17th-18th centuries by grammarians who admired Latin and tried to make English conform to its patterns. In Latin, sentences cannot end with prepositions. But English has different grammatical structures, and forcing Latin rules onto English creates awkward constructions.
Winston Churchill allegedly responded to an editor who 'corrected' his preposition placement: 'This is the sort of nonsense up with which I will not put.' Whether or not Churchill actually said this, it perfectly illustrates how unnatural avoided-preposition sentences can sound.
Things to Know
- Unnecessary prepositions ('Where is it at?') should still be avoided, but that is about redundancy, not position.
- Very formal writing may avoid terminal prepositions as a stylistic choice.
- Phrasal verbs (give up, look into, put up with) naturally end with preposition-like particles.