As a result of my obsessive compulsion I tend to notice sexist, racist, classist, homophobic, transphobic, antihandicappist, theist, monogamist, legalist, and xenophobic features of ordinary speech. For example, how I complain about the phrase "gay men and lesbians" ("gay people" or "nonheterosexuals" would work better, depending on context). This makes people think I am a member of the early-90's anti-comedy troop, The Political Correctness Police. Wrong. All incorrectness offends me, not just the political kind. Political errors are the most common type because language reflects prejudices, and people have a lot of prejudices.
But here's an apolitical error: when people say whom instead of who, even though whom is borderline archaic, and then end that same clause with a preposition. For example, "whom do I give the mint milano to?" If you're going to speak in costume, don't wear sneakers. Go all the way. Prepositions, historically, precede.
Correct:
- To whom do I give the mint milano?
- Who do I give the mint milano to?
Poor breeding:
- Whom do I give the mint milano to?
4 comments:
I would totally say "to whom do I give this to?"
but I'm totally archaic.
:)
"Who do I give the mint milano to?" is not correct at all. It has to be "whom." The placement of "to" is just extra-badness. Unless you're saying that it's okay to be generally lazy about grammar, a stance with which I am okay.
By "correct" I mean "doesn't fill me with hate."
The word whom rarely makes a sentence clearer. Its main function is to look smart. The world therefore might be a better place without it.
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