| Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993. |
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| reason why, the |
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| This locution is often blacklisted as redundant: the commentators who dislike it usually prefer The reason is: The reason [that] I’m late is [that] I ran out of gas instead of The reason why I’m late…. But some of our best authors have been writing the reason why for several centuries, and most of us now say it and use it Informally without even noticing. The expression is Standard, and today even Edited English seldom objects to it. Only in Formal and Oratorical—and perhaps in some very demanding Planned—contexts will a few insist on another locution. | 1 |
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| | | The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. Copyright © 1993 Columbia University Press. |
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