GalacticCactus Forum

Forums => English & Linguistics => Topic started by: Brinestone on July 05, 2005, 09:40:28 AM

Title: If, then and other personal preferences
Post by: Brinestone on July 05, 2005, 09:40:28 AM

Am I the only one who hates the word then in if-then statements? Like, "If you don't give me all your chocolate, then I'm not going to be your friend anymore."

Wouldn't it be better like this: "If you don't give me all your chocolate, I'm not going to be your friend anymore." What is the purpose of the then? Is it ever unclear without it?

I also don't get along with. What does along with say that with doesn't?

Title: If, then and other personal preferences
Post by: Jonathon on July 05, 2005, 09:44:10 AM

Weird. I usually hate it when they leave out the then. I think it reads better with it (or should I say "along with it"?). I also hate leaving out thats, too (or leaving them out all the time, anyway, like one writer here at work :pirate: ).

I don't know how I feel about along with, though. I'm sure sometimes it's unnecessary, and when it is, I'll probably take it out.

Title: If, then and other personal preferences
Post by: Primal Curve on July 05, 2005, 09:51:16 AM

If you don't give me your chocolate, I'll hit you with a pipe . . . in the conservatory . . . with Ms. Scarlett on my arm. Schwing!

Title: If, then and other personal preferences
Post by: Brinestone on July 05, 2005, 10:10:52 AM

But you don't say when . . . then. Why if?

Title: If, then and other personal preferences
Post by: Jonathon on July 05, 2005, 10:22:54 AM

Are we talking about speech or writing?

Title: If, then and other personal preferences
Post by: Brinestone on July 05, 2005, 10:24:59 AM

Mostly writing, but also speech.

Title: If, then and other personal preferences
Post by: saxon75 on July 05, 2005, 10:33:23 AM

I usually see "along with" used to mean "in addition to" rather than "with."  For example, "James was in the band, along with Lars, Jason, and Kirk," has a very different feeling to me than "James was in the band with Lars, Jason, and Kirk."

Title: If, then and other personal preferences
Post by: Jonathon on July 05, 2005, 10:36:07 AM

Quote

But you don't say when . . . then. Why if?

*shrug*

Personal preference. ;)