Sorry if I lured you into reading under false and salacious pretenses. Actually, that’s not true. I did it on purpose. But keep reading. The post is what’s short and hopefully sweet, but what’s loose? “At.” “At” is a loose preposition (or proposition) as used by many writers. Recently I heard someone say, “This is where your friends are at.” That last preposition is on the loose and should be lost. You don’t need “at”. Just say “This is where your friends are.” Simple and concise. Even shorter would be “Your friends are here.”
If you listen, you’ll find “at” hanging on the ends of many sentences where it isn’t needed. If any of those sentences are yours, do the caring thing. Get rid of “at.”
As an added bonus, here’s one more loose preposition: “for”. How often have you heard, said or written, “What are you here for?” Just say no to “for” when it’s unneeded. Say, “Why are you here?” If you’re a Friday Fictioneer or anyone else trying to make a word count, cutting these loose prepositions is not only grammatically better, but cuts out eliminates unnecessary words. “What did you want to do that for?” = “Why did you want to do that?” = “Why did you do that?”
This week, make a pledge to just say no to loose prepositions…or propositions!
This, that and the other thing 
I hate that “at”. But unfortunately that’s how people talk. So when writing conversion it gives the character its own voice. Just as “what are you here for”is often asked by medical personnel. So I would think this would be the exception.
I know that’s true but I think too often it’s just use sloppily. Writing with a voice in fiction is one thing. Writing of other kinds and at least some conversations are something else. Not laying down any laws with punishments, though. 🙂
janet
🙂 I know what you’re saying.
I agree with all three 🙂
You make good points for writing in general, Janet – but I’ll have to agree with Silentlyheardonce on this one for fiction writing. 🙂 It’s true that many people (see! I could have said “a lot of people”, but I got rid of two
wholewords!) use constructions that aren’t strictly grammatical or aren’t as concise as they could be, but characters shouldn’t sound too formal. I try to cut descriptions and explanations as much as possible to reach minimal word count, myself – except when I come up with a phrase I can’t bear to discard.As a general rule, I think I’d tend toward “Use correct, concise grammar unless you’re giving the words or thoughts of a fictional character; re-read your post and simplify the language, taking out as many polysyllabic words as feasible; then read it again and make sure every word is pulling its own weight and more – if not, cut it or change it.”
As I just mentioned, fiction with a voice may be different. Just giving people something to think about, no hard and fast laws. 🙂
Encouraging people to think is always a good idea!
🙂 I was thinking today that I hadn’t seen you around much so it was especially nice to hear from you. Hope all’s well. Looking forward to my next trip!
I haven’t been online as much as usual – things were pretty hectic for a week or so (nothing bad, just a lot to do), and then we took a minivacation Thursday and Friday. I think I’ll be back to normal now – and yay for trips!
Trips are great. Just glad you were doing something fun (at least some). Life has a habit of interfering, doesn’t it?
Yes – how dare it? 😉 (Really, I’m lucky to have such an assortment of communities I’m part of, even if I do wind up getting pulled in various directions as a result.)
Thanks for this post! Wish you were mom’s english teacher – hers was a jerk ;o)
I’m willing to come to your place to grammar lessons for room and board. 🙂
Great – then I can fire my editor ;o)
Sounds like a deal to me! 🙂 Megan will likely be in Provence this summer, so why shouldn’t I be in Brittany??
yeah why not? But I’ll bet the summer in Provence is better than ours ;o)
Probably. I’d like to get there, but we’ll see. You could visit for a grammar workshop. 🙂
Makes a lot of sense. That is another of the ‘rules’ in writing I have seen in my writing resource books, but may often forget. I better go back and check out my own to see where, or if I have any preps and props like you mentioned. 🙂
As per the other comments, you might want to use these in fictional conversation, but overall I don’t think it hurts to use clean English if possible.
janet
Well, I’ll definitely be careful to avoid any loose propositions this weekend 😀
Thank goodness!! 🙂
janet
at ta girl.
for sure
Where you at Rock? Where you at? Over here to the rear with the girls and 40’s of beer!
Where you be at?
I ain’t be got no weapon. Why you be got to pull a knife out on me?
It’s dinner time.