In order to versus to. A number of people believe that there is no difference. Yet, there can be.
I helped her to write a song. That surely does not mean I helped her in order [that we might be able] to write a song.
My rule is skip in order to when to will do. But in a longer sentence the lone auxiliary as opposed to the longer phrase makes the reader hesitate as she or he struggles to decode the sense. Any place that leads to even mild momentary confusion may do better with in order to.
By the way, the best construction of the above sentence is I helped her write a song.
Now consider, for to, as in I left Texas for to go to Tennessee or I went up Dalton's Hill for to see my true love.
Tho these days we deem that formation to be dated, notice that in order to is equivalent to for to, which is not really all that dated. It was still used by quite a few ordinary speakers in mid-20th-century America. I recall my dad, who was a crackerjack newspaperman and professional writer, using it on occasion. I suppose he was thinking, "Why use in order to when for to will do?
My rule is skip in order to when to will do. But in a longer sentence the lone auxiliary as opposed to the longer phrase makes the reader hesitate as she or he struggles to decode the sense. Any place that leads to even mild momentary confusion may do better with in order to.
By the way, the best construction of the above sentence is I helped her write a song.
Now consider, for to, as in I left Texas for to go to Tennessee or I went up Dalton's Hill for to see my true love.
Tho these days we deem that formation to be dated, notice that in order to is equivalent to for to, which is not really all that dated. It was still used by quite a few ordinary speakers in mid-20th-century America. I recall my dad, who was a crackerjack newspaperman and professional writer, using it on occasion. I suppose he was thinking, "Why use in order to when for to will do?
No comments:
Post a Comment