prepositionits

Prepositionitis is a term used informally in linguistics and writing advice to describe the overuse or unnecessary inclusion of prepositions, particularly at the end of sentences. While ending a sentence with a preposition is not grammatically incorrect, the term "prepositionitis" suggests a stylistic weakness that can make writing wordy or awkward. This often occurs when writers try to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition, leading to convoluted phrasing.

The concern with prepositionitis is not about breaking grammatical rules, but rather about clarity and conciseness. Excessive prepositions can sometimes obscure the main point of a sentence or add unnecessary syllables. For example, a sentence like "That is the person whom I was talking about" might be considered an instance of prepositionitis, with a more direct phrasing being "That is the person I was talking about."

Writers are often advised to review their work for instances where prepositions can be removed or rephrased for better flow. However, it is important to distinguish between genuine redundancy and sentences where a preposition at the end is the most natural and effective construction. The goal is to improve the readability of the text, not to enforce an arbitrary rule against prepositional endings. Ultimately, the effectiveness of a sentence is determined by its clarity and impact on the reader.