"OFF OF". Hideous crime against English language. Discuss.

[UnquietDad]

That's it really.

Can we also talk about the unnecessary 'of' in this context:

'There are no shops outside of the town.'

Iorek ... re your daughter's enquiry, you should explain that she should have said, "What are you laughing at, mummy?"

lol Wordsmith - you are right, what was I thinking of?

can someone brainy explain why "on to" is acceptable, while "off of" isn't?

I have only read the title not the whole thread but God it makes my blood boil. I have had the ILs down for a long weekend and they seemed to leave certain words at home - "I'll read it you" I am sorry there is a word missing it is "to" a short word and easy word please don't forget it. I also realised my dh has started doing it too

I might be totally wrong, padboz, but I think it's because you aren't meant to pile prepositions together -- using two where one would do. So, 'from' rather than 'off of'; and 'onto', as a single word.

"Off of" is horrible.

I do not get "off of from". I am being particularly dim and cannot think when that would be used.

yes, Iorek, 'what you laughing at' is a little .. A-Team, no?

Or maybe Different Strokes, as in "what you talking about Willis"

Indeed. Neither are role-models I would commend to any daughter of mine.

Perhaps not. Tempting though.

Yes. You could have a big cigar, and your daughter could have a mohican and a medallion. That would stir things up a bit at playgroup.

rofl

I also dislike (but not hate) "out of", as in "That Phil Oakley [sic] out of the Yewman [sic] League".

Why not "Phil Oakey from the Human League"?

"I pity the fool who tries to get me off of the runway" ?

Please, someone educate me!

"Out of from"

I really cannnot think how this would be used.

I think it was hyperbole for comic effect Kinder

OBM
Thank God for that. I thought I was missing something important

I live in Germany so am not up to date on the latest slang anyway. I have been updating my vocabulary with MN these past months.

Message withdrawn

Saw a comedy sketch where they were talking about "him off of out of". Brilliant!

Jura at "the bus I have just got off of from"

BRILLIANT letter in yesterday's Guardian:

Mario Petrucci asks whether your editorial team can get its journalists to "knock the 'of' off of 'off'". "'Of' off of 'off of'", surely?

Threadworm, you've just shortcircuited my brain.

And, pedants, please be generous over my use of "shortcircuited".