Is better grammar the key to better freelance writing? Many editors, English teachers and even readers will raise their hackles if they see a language rule being abused. There’s a lot of confusion when it comes to using prepositions correctly, and even many writers don’t understand the ins and outs of this basic (and much-mythicized) grammar law.
Pointing Out Prepositions
One reason prepositions, and the proper use therein, are so confusing is because many people don’t fully understand what they are. There are so many prepositions (up to one hundred and beyond), it’s incredibly difficult to know and memorize them all. When writing, keep this in mind: prepositions always deal with space and time. These words are some of the most commonly-used in the English language, and absolutely no one can get through a day (or a single piece of freelance writing) without at least one preposition. Some of the most commonly-used prepositions are to, at, of and in – words that everyone uses every single day, perhaps even "incorrectly."
Using Prepositions Correctly
Everyone’s heard the grammar rule that no one is ever supposed to end a sentence with a preposition. Freelance writers often think about such rules more than most, because it’s the lot of the writer to worry about editors, picky readers and the art of creating great reading material. But if one were going to adhere to this rule, said by many to be a basic and undisputable grammar law, certain sentences would be completely off-limits. Where do you come from? Who is that present for? Where did you say the restaurant was at? According to prepositional law, isn’t every single one of these questions technically, grammatically, incorrect?
If freelance writers choose to believe that it’s a huge no-no to end sentences on a preposition, the above questions would have to be changed to From where do you come?, For whom is that present? and Where at did you say the restaurant was? Sure, all of these examples are correct…but who actually talks this way and how unnatural does it really sound? Is writing like this really what editors and readers are looking for?
Tips for Better Freelance Writing
If it was, even the last sentence above would be incorrect. Many, many sentences would be incorrect if ending a sentence on a preposition is really the worst thing in the written word. Many writers – even the most successful and highly-praised – end sentences with prepositions so that the words read more naturally and sound more pleasant to the readers.
Even grammar rules aren’t set in stone, and the best freelance writing is always the words that read well and make sense. Easy to understand phrasing, dialogue and sentence structure is more valuable than all the good grammar in the world. Using prepositions correctly is writing words that sound good, make sense and convey some message - and it’s not necessary to worry so much about where those prepositions appear in the sentence.
