Ending sentences and clauses with prepositions

I think it is okay to end sentences and clauses with prepositions. In my own writing, I do it whenever I think it sounds more natural--more conversational. I also sometimes take veiled, mocking shots at the non-rule against ending with prepositions. I've done that on this blog a few times, like this:
  • A lawyer attending one of my seminars offered a great suggestion that I had never thought of. (Oops! "of which I had never thought.")
But practicing lawyers and law students reading this blog should follow my lead slowly. Remember: I do not write for judges, who might be grammatically conservative. I do not write for a supervising attorney, who might have a pet peeve about sentence-ending prepositions.

Tune your writing style and grammar to the expectations of your audience.


Wayne Schiess
Website | Seminars | Articles | Books: Preparing Legal Documents Nonlawyers Can Read and Understand | Better Legal Writing | Writing for the Legal Audience | The Legal Memo: A Basic Guide
 

Posted by Wayne Schiess at 10/28/2009 12:54 PM
Categories: Grammar and Punctuation
 

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  • 3/16/2010 12:05 PM Trent wrote:
    Rephrasing avoids the issue and strengthens the voice. "Considered" works around "thought of," and instead of a thing I will not "put up with," it is something I cannot "tolerate."

    Wayne says:
    Rephrasing avoids the issue, if you think ending with a preposition is an issue. It strengthens the voice if you think ending with a preposition is weak.


    Reply to this
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