Booher's Rules of Business Grammar - Dianna Booher 2009

“Where’s he at?”
Reminders about redundancies

UNNECESSARY PREPOSITIONS

I can’t help but think you’ve heard this one before. Oops—did it myself. Did you hear that just roll off my tongue? In the phrase help but, the but does nothing but butt in: “I can’t help thinking you’ve heard this one before” captures the thought quite nicely, thank you.

Omit prepositions that have nothing to add to the meaning of the sentence:

Where did the e-mail go (to)?

The crate fell off (of) the truck during our move.

My boss wandered outside (of) the trade show lobby just before the client stopped by our booth.

That cafeteria is located opposite (of) my office.

Where’s Ebeneezer (at) in terms of his sales career?

Memory tip

When tempted to add an unnecessary preposition, remember this quip you may have heard long ago from a parent or teacher:

Sammy: “Where’s my coat at?”

Parent: “Between the A and the T?”

The punch line? The preposition is unnecessary—so between the letters is a good place for something or someone to hide.