In order to

Question

Is it true that you can always omit in order in the phrase in order to, giving just plain to, and that it is almost always better style since less is apparently more nowadays?We must verify these results in order to be certain. --&gt; We must verify these results to be certain.In order to achieve this, we have implemented ... --&gt; To achieve this, we have implemented ...etc.(I don't mean this: You must place the items in order --- as in, according to some ordering, perhaps by size --- to see the effect clearly.)

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

ferdisIs it true that you can always omit in order in the phrase in order to, giving just plain to, and that it is almost always better style since less is apparently more nowadays?

That's what my teacher told me when I went to school. He said in order just makes the infinitive more emphatic. I'm not so sure leaving in order out is automatically better style. Of course some people may think so. English has a penchant for adding all kinds of little extras that we really could do without:

It's not uncommon to see him there. = It is common...
I see him every now and then. = I see him now and then.

CB

Anonymous · Answer

I checked some books and found that, yes, "in order" may usually be dropped except in one case: NEGATIVES.  You should not say: I am leaving now not to be late.  You need to state the purpose more clearly: I am leaving now IN ORDER not to be late (or SO AS not to be late). Also, if there are infinitives, you should use IN ORDER to make it easier for your reader:  I borrowed my friend's car to drive to impress my girlfriend. Better: I borrowed my friend's car to drive IN ORDER to impress my girlfriend.

BarbaraPA · Answer

I delete it in almost everything I edit. And mentally kick myself when I write it.

CalifJim · Answer

ferdisIs it true that you can always omit in order in the phrase in order to, giving just plain to

No. No. And no.

1. You may do better to include in order when omitting it could create ambiguity, as when an infinitive might be interpreted as an adjectival addition to a noun.

The forum will review the rules in order to prevent offensive posters. (review them for a reason)

The forum will review the rules to prevent offensive posters. (review certain kinds of rules)

2. Sometimes other forms of ambiguity can occur simply because of the meanings of words or how they can combine in different ways grammatically.

Ask the person next to you in order to get help. (Get help from the person next to you if you need it.)

Ask the person next to you to get help. (Have the person next to you go and get help elsewhere.)

We are studying how fire works in order to battle it. (The study is for the purpose of being able to battle fire.)

We are studying how fire works to battle it. (Possibly: how fire acts in such a way that it can battle something previously mentioned.)

You have to learn in order to teach. (Learning is a prerequisite to teaching.)
You have to learn to teach. (You must learn teaching skills.)

3. Sometimes an infinitive clause seems too abrupt -- too few syllables to flow well and thereby balance the other clause(s) -- without the full in order to. This is a subjective judgment call.

Sometimes you have to be willing to lose in order to win.

Sometimes you have to be willing to lose to win. (Not as good in my opinion. Too much tendency to hear to lose to win as a unit, which it is not.)

[Change lose to try and you'll have to put this sentence in group 2 above.]

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks a million for this great explanation.  I could not find anything so comprehensive in my books.  I have printed it out for reference.

In order to

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