Re: "The reason...is because..."
- From: Robert Lieblich <r_s_lieblich@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:32:14 -0500
David W wrote:
[ ... ]
Fine, but it's just the grammar that I'm concerned about. The core of
the problem for me is whether it is reasonable to apply 'because' to a
noun. If the grammar is wrong but the error overlooked because of the
close connection between 'reason' and 'because', then that's not good
enough.
Let's give this one more try:
As to grammar, "because" in the use we're discussing is a
subordinating conjunction used to construct dependent clauses that are
used as predicate nominatives with "reason" as the subject of the
sentence. (I think that's what you mean by "apply 'because' to a
noun.") Such structures are quite grammatical and can make perfectly
good sense with other subordinating conjunctions:
- The time for filing the documents is after the judge has rendered
his decision. (Compare: "The reason for filing the documents is
because the judge has rendered his decision.")
- The time for filing is when the judge says so.
- The issue is whether he is to be imprisoned.
I could go on. The point is that dependent clauses introducted by
subordinating conjunctions and serving as predicate nominatives
(sometimes called "predicate clauses") are quite ordinary in English.
There's no rule of grammar that distinguishes "because" in such uses
from other subordinating conjunctions. The objection is one of usage
or style, not grammar.
You'll find some comment on this issue in various dictionaries and
usage books, both on and off the Web. Here are some links to some
sites that (more or less) agree with me:
<http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=because>,
which gives the usage and doesn't even bother to comment
<http://www.bartleby.com/61/49/B0144900.html> ("The usage is well
established ...")
<http://www.bartleby.com/68/11/5011.html> (a useful discussion; note
that it begins "This locution has long been in use in Standard
English.")
Burchfield, in his "Fowler III," sets forth many examples of "reason
is ... because" from authors of repute over several centuries, but he
wusses out in his conclusion by saying it should be avoided. For
shame!
After all that, we find ourselves in <litotes alert> a not unfamiliar
situation: We have a usage that is commonplace and that passes without
comment most of the time. But that same usage is subject to criticism
from the defenders of the faith. And the consensus of the authorities
seems to be that the frequency of its use has not quite gained it full
acceptance. In that situation, what I usually do is eschew the usage
myself, edit it out when reviewing the work of others, but let it pass
in ordinary reading and conversation.
Some day when you're really, really bored, search AUE for "another
thing coming," which is in some ways a funhouse-mirror image of this
discussion. That one reached no firm conclusion. The same will be
true of this one.
.
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