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Musicgold Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Getting / in getting

Hi,

Sentence #1 is from a comics. I feel that it would sound better if I inserted an 'in' before 'getting to your house' as in sentence #2. What do you think?

1. "I am going to be a little late getting to your house. I have got a flat tire."



2. "I am going to be a little late in getting to your house. I have got a flat tire."

Thanks,

MG.
  

Top answer

Hi MG, I'm one who edits out unnecessary words. If a word does not help the sound or sense of a sentence, then why put it in? I understand that you will hear the sounds of English words together in a sentence differently from me and i don't mean that my word choice is better.

— TrysB

  • Hi MG, I'm one who edits out unnecessary words.
  • If a word does not help the sound or sense of a sentence, then why put it in?
  • I understand that you will hear the sounds of English words together in a sentence differently from me and i don't mean that my word choice is better.
  • Editors are not poets.
  • They are trained to eliminate words and even whole sentences and paragraphs that aren't needed [ in their opinions ].
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4 Answers
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Hi MG,

I'm one who edits out unnecessary words. If a word does not help the sound or sense of a sentence, then why put it in?

I understand that you will hear the sounds of English words together in a sentence differently from me and i don't mean that my word choice is better. Editors are not poets. They are trained to eliminate words and even whole sentences and paragraphs tha
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TysB,

Thanks. I am trying to learn American English.

Are you saying that both sentences are fine?

MG.
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Musicgold... if I inserted an 'in' before 'getting to your house'
You can do that if you want. I would leave it out.

CJ
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