from where it came [from]

From here to eternity... (not that I watch many kid movies )
From the railway came the sound of shunting trains... (Wells)
From Russia, with love (I likt the Cats and Dogs version)

Lol...

And this preposition is redundant...? I like from; it has loads of uses...

It came from outta space (source)
He doesn't know left from right (differentiation)

and all th prep phrases it can tie into... 'From's' a good one...

Whence it came.

poetinahat said:

Whence it came.

Click to expand...

"Whence it came", while grammatically correct, is to an American reader very Brit/archaic/prissy. "From where it came" is stylistically formal. "Where it came from" is the general informal, and there is no damn rule against using a preposition to end a sentence or phrase, and the sooner we manage to drive a stake through that coffin-dweller, the better.

blacbird said:

"Whence it came", while grammatically correct, is to an American reader very Brit/archaic/prissy. "From where it came" is stylistically formal. "Where it came from" is the general informal, and there is no damn rule against using a preposition to end a sentence or phrase, and the sooner we manage to drive a stake through that coffin-dweller, the better.

Click to expand...

Whatever. Just coming up with a possibility for discussion. But thanks for putting me in my place.

poetinahat said:

Whatever. Just coming up with a possibility for discussion. But thanks for putting me in my place.

Click to expand...

Yer place is way okay, mate. Except maybe for the 30-foot crocodiles and the snakes and jellyfish that'll kill ya dead if they look at ya. Not a put-down, just an observation about the geographical preference for the use of "whence". When Yanks use it, they mostly misuse it, as in "from whence it came", thinking they are somehow being more proper and educated-like.

I wouldn't use 'whence' either, amigo... other than in circumstances where mannered language is called for. <-- (whoa, preposition! *eats words*)

Sorry, sir... guess it was time for my quarterly (daily?) snapback, and you were in the firing line.

Folks down here use "whilst" sometimes, but "whence" would get you a wedgie here too.

tko said:

I agree the word "from" is somewhat redundant. But as a phrase using it seems to roll off the tongue better.

Click to expand...

Sometimes it really is about the rhythm.

poetinahat said:

Folks down here use "whilst" sometimes,

Click to expand...

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!

caw

Where did that come from?

As an American I agree that "whence it came" fits well. It is a great pity that "whence" has fallen out of use, but it is a good word, especially when used properly.

blacbird said:

"Whence it came", while grammatically correct, is to an American reader very Brit/archaic/prissy.

Click to expand...

Aw, shucks. I always liked "whence." But I know whereof you speak.

tko said:

I agree the word "from" is somewhat redundant.

Click to expand...

I don't.

From where it came from.

Click to expand...

Well, okay yes. It's definitely redundant in this example.

Where did this one come?

Click to expand...

It's not redundant in this example. The question doesn't make sense without it.

I don't think whence is even remotely prissy and I don't see any correlation at all between Englishness, archaicness or prissiness.

Whilst whence might be old fashioned it is absolutely valid English and hence usable by the awedgophobic.

tko said:

I agree the word "from" is somewhat redundant. But as a phrase using it seems to roll off the tongue better.

From where it came.

From where it came from.

Where did this one come?

Where did this one come from?

I'm sure there are many more where this one came [from].

Click to expand...

#2 and #3 are definitely wrong, by the way. You don't repeat the "from," and "Where did this one come?" would be an awkward way of asking where it wound up, not where it came from.