Grammar question re: “that”

[Anonymous]

Never use five words when one will do.

[Anonymous]

Could you change it to “I recognize your frustration”?

[Anonymous]

I had a supervisor about 10 years ago who had a severe aversion to the word "that." If you used it more than once in a sentence, she would lose her sh*t. To this day, because of her, I correct my writing if I use it twice.

[Anonymous]

DP, but appreciate the insights. Not to hijack the thread, but different grammar question.

Would you say “give the books to me and John” or “John and me”? I feel like the latter was more appropriate when I was younger.

[Anonymous]

Both are correct, and I prefer to use fewer words when fewer is an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DP, but appreciate the insights. Not to hijack the thread, but different grammar question.

Would you say “give the books to me and John” or “John and me”? I feel like the latter was more appropriate when I was younger.

Me and John was never correct. Maybe it seemed more appropriate when you were younger because you grew up in a place where people routinely spoke incorrectly? But it was never correct.

[Anonymous]

I work with someone who drops articles and conjunctions in both written and verbal communication. Is this a new thing?
For examples:
I’m curious your thoughts.
Authors of study suggest people…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are the people you are arguing with lawyers? I find they want to unnecessarily insert "that" everywhere. I fight this battle daily.

The overall trend in style is to delete it when not absolutely necessary.

Haha, I’m a lawyer who probably overuses “that.” Key early mentors in my life insisted [that] it was wrong to drop “that” from the sentence described.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, there's no hard and fast rule. Sometimes it's required, sometimes it's optional. Context matters.

In your example, it's optional, but I would keep it in.

If you are editing something with a group, it's probably in a work context, so I'd err on the side of being more formal and leaving it in.


Detailed explanation here: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/articles/when-to-delete-that/

Understood.

Fwiw, I’ve been listening to people debate this so much that I can’t decide where I land on the matter.

Honestly, the inclusion of “that” when it’s optional rather than required almost seems less formal/less polished when reading aloud. It sounds more technical than refined.

NP. Including “that” is completely fine. I honestly want to know what you do for a living where multiple people are sitting around wringing their hands about this issue.

Not OP but I had a 20 min group discussion about this VERY ISSUE while writing a brief once. (Lawyer.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DP, but appreciate the insights. Not to hijack the thread, but different grammar question.

Would you say “give the books to me and John” or “John and me”? I feel like the latter was more appropriate when I was younger.

Either is fine

What's wrong is "Give the books to John and I" - a very common mistake

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work with someone who drops articles and conjunctions in both written and verbal communication. Is this a new thing?
For examples:
I’m curious your thoughts.
Authors of study suggest people…

I'm curious your thoughts is fine - just a bit informal

"Authors of study suggest people" is irritatingly wrong in a couple of ways

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could you change it to “I recognize your frustration”?

“You’re frustrated.”