Cole Parker Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 I guess my density shows. I don't see why removing either of the 'thats' improves the passage. In fact, in the second case, I think it reads better with the 'that' left in and more closely resembles a normal speech pattern. This is dialogue we're seeing. Not trying to be argumentative or contentious, just thinking out loud, I guess. C Link to comment
Nick Deverill Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 At the end of the day, we all have our own styles and if everyone wrote exactly to the same rules, life would be awfully boring. I certainly could not do it for everybody, but some authors have such a distinctive style, I probably could identify their work after two sentences. Link to comment
Camy Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 I like that. It's one of the less vulgar four letter words I use, so I shan't be lopping it out, willy nilly. Link to comment
Bruin Fisher Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 I like that. It's one of the less vulgar four letter words I use, so I shan't be lopping it out, willy nilly. It's hard to read 'lopping' and 'willy' in the same sentence.... Link to comment
Cole Parker Posted February 7, 2015 Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 I agree. If we go lopping willy nilly, one worries about the willy being lopped. C Link to comment
DesDownunder Posted February 7, 2015 Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 A willy that is nilly is probably too short to be lopped. Link to comment
colinian Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 Back to "that" — there are times when "that" clarifies or simplifies so it can be useful. But please, never like this example: ...there are times when "that" clarifies or simplifies so that it can be useful. "So" is a lovely little word that doesn't need to be trailed by a "that" — just leave "so" alone so it can do it's job all by itself. Colin Link to comment
Cole Parker Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 I'll do that, Colin, just so that you'll be happy. C Link to comment
Rutabaga Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 I'll do that, Colin, just so that you'll be happy. C So that is the solution, it appears. R Link to comment
colinian Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 I'll do that, Colin, just so that you'll be happy. C There. Just so you know, without that that it's much better. Colin Link to comment
colinian Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 So that is the solution, it appears. R Of course, the "So" isn't needed in that sentence. It can read, "That is the solution, it appears." Colin Link to comment
Camy Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Personally, I'm going to continue using that, and so, and so that whenever I want. No bandwagon jumping here, I'll have you know. Link to comment
DesDownunder Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Well Camy, is that so? Good for you! Link to comment
Cole Parker Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Colin, you're being so, so, so fussy! C Link to comment
Merkin Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Just don't troll 'which' in front of Colin instead of 'that', in a sentence that depends on 'that'. Link to comment
Rutabaga Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 So that is what all the fuss is about? R Link to comment
Cole Parker Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 A witch hunt. Link to comment
DesDownunder Posted February 12, 2015 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 That could so easily become a which hunt. Link to comment
Cole Parker Posted February 12, 2015 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 That was a given, Des! C Link to comment
DesDownunder Posted February 12, 2015 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 sorry.... Link to comment
Rutabaga Posted February 12, 2015 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 So that which we are forbidden to use is . . . . . ? R Link to comment
larkin Posted July 29, 2015 Report Share Posted July 29, 2015 I've been known to use the improper contraction, "so's" So's we don't get caught.. Link to comment
Cole Parker Posted July 29, 2015 Report Share Posted July 29, 2015 Who's telling you these things? In modern writing, just about anything goes. C Link to comment
Graeme Posted July 29, 2015 Report Share Posted July 29, 2015 When you're dealing with dialects, there's a lot more flexibility. "So's we don't get caught" is an example. To me, that immediately brought to mind the speech patterns of your old-fashioned lower-class English labourer/petty thief. Capturing that feeling in so few words is why things like that are acceptable. It wouldn't be acceptable from an upper-class gent, but in the right context... Link to comment
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