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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
A question about so-called double prepositions
Why's "run out of time" OK, but not "fall off of the table"? Why is "tumbled out of bed" OK, but not "tumbled off of the bed"?
Top answer
"out of" serves a valid purpose, distinct from "out" and "of" individually. "off of" does not, and is simply a substandard way of saying "off".
- "out of" serves a valid purpose, distinct from "out" and "of" individually.
- "off of" does not, and is simply a substandard way of saying "off".
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14 Answers
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"out of" serves a valid purpose, distinct from "out" and "of" individually. "off of" does not, and is simply a substandard way of saying "off".
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Don't you mean nonstandard?
GPY"out of" serves a valid purpose, distinct from "out" and "of" individually. "off of" does not, and is simply a substandard way of saying "off".
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AnonymousCould you please expalin that distinctive purpose?In its basic spatial sense, "out of" conveys the idea of something moving from inside to outside, as in "I took the hat out of the box" or "He went out of the room". However, as is usual with prepositions, the combination has further idiomatic uses that may not be very predictable, as in "out of reach
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AnonymousDon't you mean nonstandard?No, though some people may consider it that too.
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AnonymousDon't you mean nonstandard?GPY"out of" serves a valid purpose, distinct from "out" and "of" individually. "off of" does not, and is simply a substandard way of saying "off".Since I use it a lot, I prefer 'informal'. The only place to beware is on a language proficiency test.
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Mister MicawberSince I use it a lot, I prefer 'informal'. The only place to beware is on a language proficiency test.It seems opinions on this do vary. I personally loathe "off of" and think it sounds awful.
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Just one more post on this, because I seem to be the only supporter of 'off of'—and yet it seems so common and colloquial in conversational AmE that I feel I really must defend it as currently acceptable spoken English.
I ask AmE speakers at least to consider how frequently they, for instance, say to their dog, 'Get offa my lap!' or to their wife, 'Get offa my back!' (or vice versa). 'Of
I ask AmE speakers at least to consider how frequently they, for instance, say to their dog, 'Get offa my lap!' or to their wife, 'Get offa my back!' (or vice versa). 'Of
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Mister MicawberJust one more post on this, because I seem to be the only supporter of 'off of'—and yet it seems so common and colloquial in conversational AmE that I feel I really must defend it as currently acceptable spoken English.It could be that it is more accepted in the US than in the UK.
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