Formal or informal?
In the following sentences, (A1) and (A2) are more formal than (B1) and (B2)?
In written English, all four of these are acceptable enough?
(A1) She is as old as him.
(B1) She is as old as he is.
(A2) She is the same age as him.
(B2) She is the same age as he is.
Top answer
These are all acceptable. If you had to say that any were more formal, it would be (B1) and (B2). Some people believe that "as him" is formally inferior, and it should in full be "as he is", or in short "as he", though the latter now sounds pretty stilted.
- These are all acceptable.
- If you had to say that any were more formal, it would be (B1) and (B2).
- Some people believe that "as him" is formally inferior, and it should in full be "as he is", or in short "as he", though the latter now sounds pretty stilted.
- Even people who do not subscribe to the notion that there is anything at all wrong with "as him" might feel a slight inclination to use "as he is" in formal writing "just in case".
- This is a very old chestnut, by the way.
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These are all acceptable. If you had to say that any were more formal, it would be (B1) and (B2). Some people believe that "as him" is formally inferior, and it should in full be "as he is", or in short "as he", though the latter now sounds pretty stilted. Even people who do not subscribe to the notion that there is anything at all wrong with "as him" might feel a slight inclination to use "as
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