On Prepositions

Synopsis

Mary Norris, known as the Comma Queen, discusses the common misconception that sentences cannot end with prepositions. She emphasizes that this rule is a matter of personal preference. Norris provides an example from the show Inside Man, where she reflects on a sentence about a criminal organization. She notes that while she was tempted to rephrase it, she chose to respect the author's original wording. Norris also highlights a more informal sentence that ends with a preposition, illustrating that such constructions can feel natural and conversational. Additionally, she mentions the historical accuracy of commas, referencing specific types like Futura and Baskerville, and discusses the importance of maintaining their integrity in writing.