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I agree with you and with Geoff that it is absolutely permissible, and
sometimes even advisable, to end a sentence with a preposition in English.
In shops where I have been forced to avoid this sometimes necessary
structure, I sometimes try to re-write around the problem. You may or may
not be able to do this. I sometimes write to avoid the problem simply
because I know many people know the erroneous rule and I don't want them to
edit my work for it.
<<"Your home page opens, displaying the courses you are teaching and the
courses your are registered for."
CORRECT: Your home page opens, displaying the courses you are teaching and
for which you are registered." (okay, would need to re-work this one)>>
How about something like:
"Your home page opens and displays the courses you are teaching and taking."
<<
"Each class has an Agenda that you can add course materials to."
CORRECT: Each class has an Agenda to which you can add course materials."
(awkward)
>>
"Each class has an Agenda. You can add course materials to each class's
Agenda."
<<
"Find the course that you want to add an assistant instructor to."
CORRECT: Find the course to which you want to add an assistant instructor.
(again, a bit awkward)
>>
This one could be avoided in context also. If it was an instruction
specifically for adding an assistant instructor, you could simply say, "Find
the correct course." or "Find the course you want."
Rose A. Wilcox
Project Office / Power Trading
Communication Specialist / Technical Writer
Rose -dot- Wilcox -at- PinnacleWest -dot- com
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