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Grammar pedants - help please.

2 lurkers | 97 watchers

Northern Exile Jul 2024 9:54pm, 9 Jul 2024 10,391 posts	0 Northern Exile Agreed.
sallykate Jul 2024 5:20pm, 18 Jul 2024 14,540 posts	0 sallykate I'm sure some of us could contribute to this: x.com
GordonG Jul 2024 9:15pm, 18 Jul 2024 10,478 posts	0 GordonG bit of advice please. the following is taken from an online article about the weather: "The current highest temperature of the year stands at 30.5C recorded at Wisley, Surrey, on the 26 June - so it's going to come down to a matter of tenths of a degree as to whether we surpass this figure or not." Is 'or not' necessary? isn't that what 'whether' means?
Dvorak Jul 2024 10:05pm, 18 Jul 2024 27,903 posts	0 Dvorak Yes and no.
GordonG Jul 2024 9:14am, 19 Jul 2024 10,480 posts	0 GordonG Ok. A bit more detailed advice please 🤣
Cerrertonia Jul 2024 9:38am, 19 Jul 2024 21,527 posts	0 Cerrertonia The 'or not' is superfluous, but it's not incorrect.
um Jul 2024 9:40am, 19 Jul 2024 8,678 posts	0 um Although the 'we surpass' suggests a higher involvement than just watching a thermometer?
GordonG Jul 2024 10:47am, 19 Jul 2024 10,481 posts	0 GordonG Cerrertonia wrote:The 'or not' is superfluous, but it's not incorrect. Ok, thanks everyone, that helps 😀
paulcook Jul 2024 10:53am, 19 Jul 2024 5,933 posts	0 paulcook My old classics teacher would disagree. He said whether required a second option and it's incorrect to leave out the "or not". But on the flip side, I'm of the opinion languages evolve.
Cerrertonia Jul 2024 11:50am, 19 Jul 2024 21,531 posts	0 Cerrertonia The various style guides are a bit more nuanced on whether or not it is required The NY Times has a nice blog post here: archive.nytimes.com