Can you end a sentence with a preposition in English?

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Can you end a sentence with a preposition in English?

The answer is YES in everyday, informal English, and NO in more formal English.

In casual, informal English we often say things like:

  • There’s nothing to be scared of.
  • What are you thinking about?
  • This is the book she’s famous for.

It’s especially common when the preposition is part of a phrasal verb:

  • The meeting was called off. (= canceled)
  • What time do you wake up?
  • I have a lot of stuff to deal with. (= handle)

In formal written English, we should avoid ending sentences with prepositions – so we would write sentences like these instead:

  • The meeting was canceled.
  • This is the book for which she is famous.
  • There is no reason to be scared.

But when having everyday conversations and even when writing in an informal way, it’s perfectly OK to end a sentence with a preposition.

Hope that helps – great question – keep sending me more! What are you curious or unsure about in English? Let me know.

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