How to include a question in a declarative sentence?
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
Over the years I have gotten used to the following sentences formation:
I know that this is the website but how do I specify for what I am
paying?
Instead of:
I know that this is the website but how do I specify for what am I
paying?
I want to ask which of the following is correct and is it possible for them both to be correct, one being more formal or something?
I also want to ask what the general rule for such cases is?
grammar grammaticality formality
asked Nov 12 at 20:55
festiv
61
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 1 hour ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
Over the years I have gotten used to the following sentences formation:
I know that this is the website but how do I specify for what I am
paying?
Instead of:
I know that this is the website but how do I specify for what am I
paying?
I want to ask which of the following is correct and is it possible for them both to be correct, one being more formal or something?
I also want to ask what the general rule for such cases is?
grammar grammaticality formality
asked Nov 12 at 20:55
festiv
61
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 1 hour ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
There are two options in English: (1) "Indirect speech": [ I know that this is the website, but how do I specify for what I am paying? ] (Note the comma.) (2) "Direct speech": [ I know that this is the website, but how do I specify: "For what am I paying?" ] (Note that "direct speech" must always have quotation marks around the reported speech.)
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:50
@festive ... - However, "indirect speech" is usually the better choice, since it sounds more sophisticated, and is idiomatic in almost every context. "Direct speech," on the other hand, is clunky or incorrect in many contexts. Your example sentence happens to be such a context. In this case, "indirect speech" -- your first variant -- is definitely preferable.
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:51
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
Over the years I have gotten used to the following sentences formation:
I know that this is the website but how do I specify for what I am
paying?
Instead of:
I know that this is the website but how do I specify for what am I
paying?
I want to ask which of the following is correct and is it possible for them both to be correct, one being more formal or something?
I also want to ask what the general rule for such cases is?
grammar grammaticality formality
asked Nov 12 at 20:55
festiv
61
Over the years I have gotten used to the following sentences formation:
I know that this is the website but how do I specify for what I am
paying?
Instead of:
I know that this is the website but how do I specify for what am I
paying?
I want to ask which of the following is correct and is it possible for them both to be correct, one being more formal or something?
I also want to ask what the general rule for such cases is?
grammar grammaticality formality
grammar grammaticality formality
asked Nov 12 at 20:55
festiv
61
asked Nov 12 at 20:55
festiv
61
asked Nov 12 at 20:55
festiv
61
asked Nov 12 at 20:55
festiv
61
asked Nov 12 at 20:55
festiv
61
61
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 1 hour ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 1 hour ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
There are two options in English: (1) "Indirect speech": [ I know that this is the website, but how do I specify for what I am paying? ] (Note the comma.) (2) "Direct speech": [ I know that this is the website, but how do I specify: "For what am I paying?" ] (Note that "direct speech" must always have quotation marks around the reported speech.)
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:50
@festive ... - However, "indirect speech" is usually the better choice, since it sounds more sophisticated, and is idiomatic in almost every context. "Direct speech," on the other hand, is clunky or incorrect in many contexts. Your example sentence happens to be such a context. In this case, "indirect speech" -- your first variant -- is definitely preferable.
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:51
add a comment |
There are two options in English: (1) "Indirect speech": [ I know that this is the website, but how do I specify for what I am paying? ] (Note the comma.) (2) "Direct speech": [ I know that this is the website, but how do I specify: "For what am I paying?" ] (Note that "direct speech" must always have quotation marks around the reported speech.)
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:50
@festive ... - However, "indirect speech" is usually the better choice, since it sounds more sophisticated, and is idiomatic in almost every context. "Direct speech," on the other hand, is clunky or incorrect in many contexts. Your example sentence happens to be such a context. In this case, "indirect speech" -- your first variant -- is definitely preferable.
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:51
There are two options in English: (1) "Indirect speech": [ I know that this is the website, but how do I specify for what I am paying? ] (Note the comma.) (2) "Direct speech": [ I know that this is the website, but how do I specify: "For what am I paying?" ] (Note that "direct speech" must always have quotation marks around the reported speech.)
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:50
There are two options in English: (1) "Indirect speech": [ I know that this is the website, but how do I specify for what I am paying? ] (Note the comma.) (2) "Direct speech": [ I know that this is the website, but how do I specify: "For what am I paying?" ] (Note that "direct speech" must always have quotation marks around the reported speech.)
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:50
@festive ... - However, "indirect speech" is usually the better choice, since it sounds more sophisticated, and is idiomatic in almost every context. "Direct speech," on the other hand, is clunky or incorrect in many contexts. Your example sentence happens to be such a context. In this case, "indirect speech" -- your first variant -- is definitely preferable.
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:51
@festive ... - However, "indirect speech" is usually the better choice, since it sounds more sophisticated, and is idiomatic in almost every context. "Direct speech," on the other hand, is clunky or incorrect in many contexts. Your example sentence happens to be such a context. In this case, "indirect speech" -- your first variant -- is definitely preferable.
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:51
add a comment |
1 Answer
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I am assuming the intended meaning is that the question is "how do I specify {the identity of the thing, for which I am paying}" (rather than "how do I specify {what I am giving as payment}").
Neither of the options presented reads as correct English to me. The "For what I am paying" or "For what am I paying" object clauses are both awkwardly constructed, and it seems to me that they were arranged this way purely to avoid ending them in "for".
Use of 'to specify'
The second possibility is that it's a mistaken use of "for" with the verb to specify. Specify is a transitive verb - it takes an object - so there is no need to use "for" to indicate what is being specified:
(correct) I specify the size, and they send it.
(incorrect) I specify for the size, and they send it.
Proposed Answer:
The way that I would word this is as follows:
- ... how do I specify what I am paying for?
Despite the repeated claims to the contrary, it is perfectly acceptable for an English sentence to end in a "preposition", and in this example it is the most natural construction. It is also totally acceptable to use this in a formal context.
Whatever you do, please don't tie your sentence in a knot just to avoid ending with "for".
- (don't write this!) ... how do I specify that, for which I am paying?
answered Nov 12 at 22:26
KrisW
6469
1
Could you explain why "for what I am paying" is incorrect? It might be a bit formal, but I'm not clear what exactly is wrong with it.
– Chappo
Nov 13 at 1:53
@Chappo Nothing at all is wrong with "How do I specify for what I am paying?".
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:42
@SAH Yes, that's what I think too. I was offering KrisW the opportunity to explain his statement "Neither of them are correct", as I think this is wrong advice but I'm open to being shown otherwise.
– Chappo
Nov 13 at 4:07
Honestly, I'm surprised at these replies, but I've edited the answer to elaborate a bit more and offer an alternative reason why I think the original construction is incorrect. This was one of those things where my instinctive reaction is "that's 100% wrong", but I've gone back and had a deeper dig into why I felt that. Hope it's clearer now.
– KrisW
Nov 13 at 9:45
Awkward is not the same as ungrammatical.
– Jim
Nov 13 at 22:49
|
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I am assuming the intended meaning is that the question is "how do I specify {the identity of the thing, for which I am paying}" (rather than "how do I specify {what I am giving as payment}").
Neither of the options presented reads as correct English to me. The "For what I am paying" or "For what am I paying" object clauses are both awkwardly constructed, and it seems to me that they were arranged this way purely to avoid ending them in "for".
Use of 'to specify'
The second possibility is that it's a mistaken use of "for" with the verb to specify. Specify is a transitive verb - it takes an object - so there is no need to use "for" to indicate what is being specified:
(correct) I specify the size, and they send it.
(incorrect) I specify for the size, and they send it.
Proposed Answer:
The way that I would word this is as follows:
- ... how do I specify what I am paying for?
Despite the repeated claims to the contrary, it is perfectly acceptable for an English sentence to end in a "preposition", and in this example it is the most natural construction. It is also totally acceptable to use this in a formal context.
Whatever you do, please don't tie your sentence in a knot just to avoid ending with "for".
- (don't write this!) ... how do I specify that, for which I am paying?
answered Nov 12 at 22:26
KrisW
6469
1
Could you explain why "for what I am paying" is incorrect? It might be a bit formal, but I'm not clear what exactly is wrong with it.
– Chappo
Nov 13 at 1:53
@Chappo Nothing at all is wrong with "How do I specify for what I am paying?".
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:42
@SAH Yes, that's what I think too. I was offering KrisW the opportunity to explain his statement "Neither of them are correct", as I think this is wrong advice but I'm open to being shown otherwise.
– Chappo
Nov 13 at 4:07
Honestly, I'm surprised at these replies, but I've edited the answer to elaborate a bit more and offer an alternative reason why I think the original construction is incorrect. This was one of those things where my instinctive reaction is "that's 100% wrong", but I've gone back and had a deeper dig into why I felt that. Hope it's clearer now.
– KrisW
Nov 13 at 9:45
Awkward is not the same as ungrammatical.
– Jim
Nov 13 at 22:49
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
0
down vote
I am assuming the intended meaning is that the question is "how do I specify {the identity of the thing, for which I am paying}" (rather than "how do I specify {what I am giving as payment}").
Neither of the options presented reads as correct English to me. The "For what I am paying" or "For what am I paying" object clauses are both awkwardly constructed, and it seems to me that they were arranged this way purely to avoid ending them in "for".
Use of 'to specify'
The second possibility is that it's a mistaken use of "for" with the verb to specify. Specify is a transitive verb - it takes an object - so there is no need to use "for" to indicate what is being specified:
(correct) I specify the size, and they send it.
(incorrect) I specify for the size, and they send it.
Proposed Answer:
The way that I would word this is as follows:
- ... how do I specify what I am paying for?
Despite the repeated claims to the contrary, it is perfectly acceptable for an English sentence to end in a "preposition", and in this example it is the most natural construction. It is also totally acceptable to use this in a formal context.
Whatever you do, please don't tie your sentence in a knot just to avoid ending with "for".
- (don't write this!) ... how do I specify that, for which I am paying?
answered Nov 12 at 22:26
KrisW
6469
1
Could you explain why "for what I am paying" is incorrect? It might be a bit formal, but I'm not clear what exactly is wrong with it.
– Chappo
Nov 13 at 1:53
@Chappo Nothing at all is wrong with "How do I specify for what I am paying?".
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:42
@SAH Yes, that's what I think too. I was offering KrisW the opportunity to explain his statement "Neither of them are correct", as I think this is wrong advice but I'm open to being shown otherwise.
– Chappo
Nov 13 at 4:07
Honestly, I'm surprised at these replies, but I've edited the answer to elaborate a bit more and offer an alternative reason why I think the original construction is incorrect. This was one of those things where my instinctive reaction is "that's 100% wrong", but I've gone back and had a deeper dig into why I felt that. Hope it's clearer now.
– KrisW
Nov 13 at 9:45
Awkward is not the same as ungrammatical.
– Jim
Nov 13 at 22:49
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
I am assuming the intended meaning is that the question is "how do I specify {the identity of the thing, for which I am paying}" (rather than "how do I specify {what I am giving as payment}").
Neither of the options presented reads as correct English to me. The "For what I am paying" or "For what am I paying" object clauses are both awkwardly constructed, and it seems to me that they were arranged this way purely to avoid ending them in "for".
Use of 'to specify'
The second possibility is that it's a mistaken use of "for" with the verb to specify. Specify is a transitive verb - it takes an object - so there is no need to use "for" to indicate what is being specified:
(correct) I specify the size, and they send it.
(incorrect) I specify for the size, and they send it.
Proposed Answer:
The way that I would word this is as follows:
- ... how do I specify what I am paying for?
Despite the repeated claims to the contrary, it is perfectly acceptable for an English sentence to end in a "preposition", and in this example it is the most natural construction. It is also totally acceptable to use this in a formal context.
Whatever you do, please don't tie your sentence in a knot just to avoid ending with "for".
- (don't write this!) ... how do I specify that, for which I am paying?
answered Nov 12 at 22:26
KrisW
6469
I am assuming the intended meaning is that the question is "how do I specify {the identity of the thing, for which I am paying}" (rather than "how do I specify {what I am giving as payment}").
Neither of the options presented reads as correct English to me. The "For what I am paying" or "For what am I paying" object clauses are both awkwardly constructed, and it seems to me that they were arranged this way purely to avoid ending them in "for".
Use of 'to specify'
The second possibility is that it's a mistaken use of "for" with the verb to specify. Specify is a transitive verb - it takes an object - so there is no need to use "for" to indicate what is being specified:
(correct) I specify the size, and they send it.
(incorrect) I specify for the size, and they send it.
Proposed Answer:
The way that I would word this is as follows:
- ... how do I specify what I am paying for?
Despite the repeated claims to the contrary, it is perfectly acceptable for an English sentence to end in a "preposition", and in this example it is the most natural construction. It is also totally acceptable to use this in a formal context.
Whatever you do, please don't tie your sentence in a knot just to avoid ending with "for".
- (don't write this!) ... how do I specify that, for which I am paying?
answered Nov 12 at 22:26
KrisW
6469
edited Nov 13 at 22:30
answered Nov 12 at 22:26
KrisW
6469
answered Nov 12 at 22:26
KrisW
6469
answered Nov 12 at 22:26
KrisW
6469
6469
1
Could you explain why "for what I am paying" is incorrect? It might be a bit formal, but I'm not clear what exactly is wrong with it.
– Chappo
Nov 13 at 1:53
@Chappo Nothing at all is wrong with "How do I specify for what I am paying?".
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:42
@SAH Yes, that's what I think too. I was offering KrisW the opportunity to explain his statement "Neither of them are correct", as I think this is wrong advice but I'm open to being shown otherwise.
– Chappo
Nov 13 at 4:07
Honestly, I'm surprised at these replies, but I've edited the answer to elaborate a bit more and offer an alternative reason why I think the original construction is incorrect. This was one of those things where my instinctive reaction is "that's 100% wrong", but I've gone back and had a deeper dig into why I felt that. Hope it's clearer now.
– KrisW
Nov 13 at 9:45
Awkward is not the same as ungrammatical.
– Jim
Nov 13 at 22:49
|
show 1 more comment
1
Could you explain why "for what I am paying" is incorrect? It might be a bit formal, but I'm not clear what exactly is wrong with it.
– Chappo
Nov 13 at 1:53
@Chappo Nothing at all is wrong with "How do I specify for what I am paying?".
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:42
@SAH Yes, that's what I think too. I was offering KrisW the opportunity to explain his statement "Neither of them are correct", as I think this is wrong advice but I'm open to being shown otherwise.
– Chappo
Nov 13 at 4:07
Honestly, I'm surprised at these replies, but I've edited the answer to elaborate a bit more and offer an alternative reason why I think the original construction is incorrect. This was one of those things where my instinctive reaction is "that's 100% wrong", but I've gone back and had a deeper dig into why I felt that. Hope it's clearer now.
– KrisW
Nov 13 at 9:45
Awkward is not the same as ungrammatical.
– Jim
Nov 13 at 22:49
1
1
Could you explain why "for what I am paying" is incorrect? It might be a bit formal, but I'm not clear what exactly is wrong with it.
– Chappo
Nov 13 at 1:53
Could you explain why "for what I am paying" is incorrect? It might be a bit formal, but I'm not clear what exactly is wrong with it.
– Chappo
Nov 13 at 1:53
@Chappo Nothing at all is wrong with "How do I specify for what I am paying?".
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:42
@Chappo Nothing at all is wrong with "How do I specify for what I am paying?".
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:42
@SAH Yes, that's what I think too. I was offering KrisW the opportunity to explain his statement "Neither of them are correct", as I think this is wrong advice but I'm open to being shown otherwise.
– Chappo
Nov 13 at 4:07
@SAH Yes, that's what I think too. I was offering KrisW the opportunity to explain his statement "Neither of them are correct", as I think this is wrong advice but I'm open to being shown otherwise.
– Chappo
Nov 13 at 4:07
Honestly, I'm surprised at these replies, but I've edited the answer to elaborate a bit more and offer an alternative reason why I think the original construction is incorrect. This was one of those things where my instinctive reaction is "that's 100% wrong", but I've gone back and had a deeper dig into why I felt that. Hope it's clearer now.
– KrisW
Nov 13 at 9:45
Honestly, I'm surprised at these replies, but I've edited the answer to elaborate a bit more and offer an alternative reason why I think the original construction is incorrect. This was one of those things where my instinctive reaction is "that's 100% wrong", but I've gone back and had a deeper dig into why I felt that. Hope it's clearer now.
– KrisW
Nov 13 at 9:45
Awkward is not the same as ungrammatical.
– Jim
Nov 13 at 22:49
Awkward is not the same as ungrammatical.
– Jim
Nov 13 at 22:49
|
show 1 more comment
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There are two options in English: (1) "Indirect speech": [ I know that this is the website, but how do I specify for what I am paying? ] (Note the comma.) (2) "Direct speech": [ I know that this is the website, but how do I specify: "For what am I paying?" ] (Note that "direct speech" must always have quotation marks around the reported speech.)
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:50
@festive ... - However, "indirect speech" is usually the better choice, since it sounds more sophisticated, and is idiomatic in almost every context. "Direct speech," on the other hand, is clunky or incorrect in many contexts. Your example sentence happens to be such a context. In this case, "indirect speech" -- your first variant -- is definitely preferable.
– SAH
Nov 13 at 3:51