End of ADS-L Digest - 12 Feb 1994 to 13 Feb 1994

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There are 4 messages totalling 105 lines in this issue.



Topics of the day:



 1. Too in initial position (3)

 2. An English Grammar Text



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Date:  Sun, 13 Feb 1994 22:07:26 -700

From:  Keith Russell <wkr[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]US.DYNIX.COM>

Subject: Re: Too in initial position



On Sun, 13 Feb 1994, Donald M. Lance wrote:



> I have vague recollections of English teachers "correcting" me for using

> initial 'too' as we use initial 'also' and 'and', followed by a comma as in

> Grepstad's example. I checked several style handbooks, thinking that there

> was a stylistic "rule" inveighing against the usage, but didn't find one.

> This usage, to my ear and eye, is common in spoken style (I suspect in any

> variety of English) but is considered too informal for most written styles.

> These "rules" in style books exist because native speakers of the language

> actually do use the forms in questions, of course.

>                          DMLance, U of Missouri



I also remember being taught in English class that initial 'too' was

incorrect. Unlike Professor Lance, however, I do not feel that this usage

is very common in spoken American English; I do agree that its use in

written language is quite informal.