Re: observable language change - "off of" makes it to the NY Times

On 2008-08-11, analyst41@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

I agree with you.  There are plenty of other "compound prepositions"
in English: "He came down from the top of the hill while we were
walking up to it."

Of course, "off of" doesn't seem to add any information in comparison
with "off", but I'm not convinced that's much of an objection to
adding just one syllable or two letters.

Would you use it serious writing?

In formal writing, no --- basically because some people complain so
loudly about it and it doesn't generally seem to add any meaning
(whereas "down from X" and "up to X" don't have the same meanings as
"down X" and "up X").


There cannot be a shadow of a doubt that the NY Times has started
using it to make its bourgeoise readers feel at home, who it thinks

ITYM "bourgeois".

would be put off by too strict an adherence to the rules of proper
usage and therefore occasional "down home" expressions like this would
be a good marketing ploy.

http://cjrarchives.org/tools/lc/fused.asp

Have you seen Gowers' addition to Fowler's original article (which, as
much I generally like Fowler, was a bit of a rant) on the fused
participle?


--
The wonderful thing about standards is that there are so
many of them to choose from. [Grace Murray Hopper]
.

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