It seems that the expression "sooner rather than later" has, in my circles, been shortened to the rhetorical tautology "sooner than later." It makes me want to chuckle, but I'm getting used to it. I think I will stick to the traditional version.
Any thoughts or comments?
I see how *sooner than later* may look odd from the grammatical perspective, but I must admit that this *oddity* wouldn't strike me as such if I heard it spoken (and chances are I have heard it spoken that way and not even noticed this phenomenon). It's also funny because I myself actually never add *rather* nor *than*. The only version I know and use is *sooner or later*. If, however, I did want to emphasize that something will happen *sooner* than *later*, then I would probably add *rather than*, but I'd yet have to observe myself more for that at this point. I wonder what others have to share.
Glenn said:
It seems that the expression "sooner rather than later" has, in my circles, been shortened to the rhetorical tautology "sooner than later." It makes me want to chuckle, but I'm getting used to it. I think I will stick to the traditional version.
Any thoughts or comments?
I, too, shall stick with the traditional version. However, the comparative form using than seems to be so grandly misused, but still accepted in its misuse. What can we do?
For example, what if I were to say, "I love Liz more than you"? Do I love Liz more than you love Liz, or do I love Liz more than I love you? Context may explain it away, but that doesn't make the initial sentence grammatical. Sadly, I've seen too much ungrammatical writing to believe that the traditional construction will yet prevail. C'est la vie.
tunawrites said:
However, the comparative form using than seems to be so grandly misused, but still accepted in its misuse. What can we do?
For example, what if I were to say, "I love Liz more than you"? Do I love Liz more than you love Liz, or do I love Liz more than I love you? Context may explain it away, but that doesn't make the initial sentence grammatical. Sadly, I've seen too much ungrammatical writing to believe that the traditional construction will yet prevail. C'est la vie.
I don't blame that one on "than", or grammar, but on the carelessness of the writer, or the lack of contemplation about the listener's apprehension. "I love Liz more than you do" and "I love Liz, more than I do you" or "more than I love you" are perfectly clear. I find many writers, not to mention casual speakers, perfectly understand their own speech from within their own perspective, and are surprised when it's not perfectly clear to everyone else.
(Year after year, I was entirely unsuccessful in explaining to my wife why asking me a question from another room, using pronouns and prepositional phrases that required pointing, was ineffective. "Why did you put it over there on that?")
Bill 5 said:
(Year after year, I was entirely unsuccessful in explaining to my wife why asking me a question from another room, using pronouns and prepositional phrases that required pointing, was ineffective. "Why did you put it over there on that?")
Ha! I love it. I constantly get the same thing, but I've come up with a stock -- and generally nonsense -- response. So, for example, when I hear from the kitchen, "Why did you put that on the refrigerator?", I say, "So the dogs won't eat it." It only occasionally makes any sense.