Where At

 

 Lately, it has been impossible to go through a day without hearing some one use at with where. Some of us, especially seniors, have a problem with this misuse of language. No matter how many times we hear it, we still cringe every time somebody says, "Where is it at?" 

As speakers of English, which is a stress rhythm language, we develop a sense of rhythm with emphasis on certain words or syllables within sentences. Here are two examples.

Example A: Where is it AT?

Example B: Where IS it?

The first with its heavy emphasis on at dominates most daily conversations, but my teachers told me not to use at with where. At is a preposition and it needs a noun or pronoun as an object. Ending a sentence with at is not incorrect, but my teachers considered it uncouth.

Since newscasters, scholars, and other educated people use Example A without skipping a beat in their presentations and daily conversations, it’s time to research the situation.

Some members of a language forum concluded that Example A is improper. Both at and where convey the sense of location; therefore, using both words is redundant. In another forum, members expressed the opinion that we are dumbing down.

A third forum presents the expression where at and says it is a substandard expression.

We are going to the party.

Where at?

The only case I can imagine for using at is the effort of the speaker to give the expression rhythm. Where doesn’t need at to ask the question.

Here’s an expression that drives me mad:

Where is it located at?