| English teachers may have told you to never split | | | | still be the best revision to maintain the intent of |
| an infinitive or start a sentence with "because." | | | | the original sentence. |
| Because most English teachers are not | | | | 2. "She's the girl from whom I want to get away." |
| professional writers, many adhere to writing rules | | | | "Away" seems like a preposition, but it is being |
| without understanding the underlying concepts of | | | | used as part of the verb "get away," which is |
| those rules. Another rule they may have told you | | | | different than the action of getting. [Actually, in |
| is never to end a sentence with a preposition. | | | | this case, "away" is being used as an adverb, but, |
| This is a rule we agree with--to a point. | | | | for all practical purposes, it's acting like part of the |
| Here's why we basically agree: Prepositions | | | | verb.] "Get away" refers to a particular type of |
| typically BEGIN prepositional phrases, and, | | | | action, so we're fine with leaving "away" at the |
| therefore, require an object of the preposition. | | | | end of the sentence. This is like "I looked his |
| [An example of a prepositional phrase is "off the | | | | phone number up." "Looked up" refers to a |
| street." The object of the preposition "off" is | | | | particular action and, though divided, is acting like a |
| "street." To find the object, ask, "Off what?" The | | | | single verb. |
| answer, "street," is the object.] A prepositional | | | | Ultimately, you have to determine the appropriate |
| phrase cannot be completed if the preposition is | | | | level of formality in which you need to write. A |
| the last word in the sentence. | | | | good professional editor should consider the same |
| However, sometimes those words that look like | | | | issue. If the writing is casual, put those |
| prepositions are used as part of verb, in which | | | | prepositions at the end. If the writing is meant to |
| case we have no problem putting them at the | | | | be formal and professional, then consider those |
| end of the sentence. | | | | ending prepositions very carefully and think about |
| Here's a couple of example to illustrate what we | | | | effective revisions. They might not be something |
| mean. | | | | you can live with. |
| 1. "She's the girl I want to get away from." | | | | Two more examples: |
| "From" is being used as a preposition, but what is | | | | 1. This is a rule we agree with. |
| the object of the preposition? It's "the girl." This | | | | This is a rule with which we agree. (emphasizing |
| sentence could easily be revised to read, "She's | | | | the rule) |
| the girl from whom I want to get away." A | | | | We agree with this rule. (emphasizing us) |
| better revision might be "I want to get away | | | | 2. They might not be something you can live with. |
| from her." Notice that the second revision is more | | | | They might not be something with which you can |
| direct and, happily, has an object to the | | | | live. (emphasizing they) |
| preposition "from." The second revision, though, | | | | You might not be able to live with them. |
| emphasizes me and not the girl, so the first may | | | | |