MLP: Don't dangle your prepositions

Poor, pitiable prepositions. Your Mrs. Language Person has a soft spot for those useful sentence connectors. Yes, in lieu of well-earned accolades for their eager explanations of when, where, or how, instead we see the little tykes rudely kicked to the curb — dangling at sentence end by a thread.

Such waste. Such disrespect.

In behalf of (and not on, mind you) prepositions everywhere, consider the difference, Dear Readers: “In behalf of” means “for the benefit of” (not that your MLP could end a sentence with “of”). “On behalf” means literally in place of (oops — that didn’t count). A substitute.

Jane raised $10,000 in behalf of Save-the-Prepositions. However, it was Jamal who accepted the check on her behalf.

Never, never end with “at.” To utter, “Where are they at” is redundant and leaves a preposition dangling helplessly. Ask simply, “Where are they?” Or say they’re in Paris (if only!). Where and at do not get along; spare them proximity.

Nor does one “meet up with;” one simply “meets” or “meets with.” There is no up; would you meet down?

Never substitute “of” for “have,” or you’ll make the present perfect tense quite imperfect. Your MLP shouldn’t “of gone” to work today. She should have gone to sleep instead.

“In” or “into?” When in motion, get into the game. Jump into the fray. The ball may sit in the bin now, but throw it into the basket. Just to confuse (MLP has a mean streak), note that the fireman ran in (separated) to save the girl. Get it, Readers? “Into” is a preposition meaning inside. Yet for the fireman, “in to” was part of a verb phrase as he (ran in) (to save) her.

Is your MLP different from, or different than, ordinary humans? While hotly debated among grammar nerds, the preference when comparing nouns is “from.”

So while MLP is daily tempted as her precious English is butchered and mangled, you’ll never catch her jumping “off of” any cliff. She may, however, jump off one.

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Mrs. Language Person and Sholeh Patrick are columnists for the Hagadone News Network who lament linguistic losses. Sympathies welcome at Sholeh@cdapress.com.