Korean Job Discussion Forums

[raewon]

I want to be cool, but I don't know how to.

Is it OK for the final "to" to be there? I think it should be removed.

I think Grammar Girl would agree with me, but how about you?

Thanks.

[tzechuk]

I think we generally don't say *to* at the end.. but it isn't grammatically incorrect?

I want to be cool, but I don't know how.

I want to be cool, but I don't know how to.

I want to be cool, but I don't know how to be.

[The Cosmic Hum]

It is a process of ellipsis.

Commonly done at the beginning of sentences.
Do you know what I mean.
You know what I mean?
Know what I mean?

End ellipses follows a similar pattern.
I want to be cool, but I don't know how to be cool.
I want to be cool, but I don't know how to be.
I want to be cool, but I don't know how to.
I want to be cool, but I don't know how.

It is a common occurance in both written and oral discourse.
Depending on your exposure to it(ie. geographic etc.) will decide your level of comfort when dropping words out.
For most a matter of preference due to culture.

Hope this is useful.

[raewon]

Both responses were most helpful. Thanks to both of you. I think I need to increase my resource library - the answers to the questions I have can never be found within the pages I read.