Well, I’ve been reading my Lowth’s Grammar (see yesterday’s entry), and I’ve only found one prescriptivist shibboleth so far. The old not ending a sentence with a preposition chestnut.
Prepositions have a Government of Cases; and in English they always require the Objective Case | after them; as, “with him; from her; to me.”
The Preposition is often separated from the Relative which it governs, and joined to the Verb at the end of the Sentence, or of some member of it: as, “Horace is an author, whom I am delighted with.” “The world is too well bred to shock authors with a truth, which generally their booksellers are the first that inform them of.” This is an Idiom which our language is strongly inclined to; it prevails in common conversation, and suits very well with the familiar style in | writing; but the placing of the Preposition before the Relative is more graceful, as well as more perspicuous; and agrees much better with the solemn and elevated Style.
[Robert Lowth. 1762. A Short Introduction to English Grammar, pp.126ff.]
That’s it? Compared to Lynne Truss et al., the good bishop is pleasantly genteel. In fact, he admits that the construction is common enough in the 18th century, and he even ends a sentence with a preposition, leaving me to believe his heart really wasn’t into this fiat. I’m still looking for the infamous split infinitive, but haven’t found it yet.
Posted by jim at October 2, 2004 05:20 PM | TrackBack