"OK, but is this issue really so troubling as to be worth either a post or my time?" The bottom line is that when readers start noticing quirks like this, they become distracted from the message. If style distracts from—rather than empowers—the message, it isn't good style.
I think the "to begin" thing began (apologies for that) when people got sensitive to dangling the preposition in "to begin with," a time-honored way of, well, beginning.
"OK, but is this issue really so troubling as to be worth either a post or my time?" The bottom line is that when readers start noticing quirks like this, they become distracted from the message. If style distracts from—rather than empowers—the message, it isn't good style.
This sort of faux colloquial plain-spoken style has been spreading throughout opinions lately.
Aw shucks.
Marley was dead: to begin with.
I think the "to begin" thing began (apologies for that) when people got sensitive to dangling the preposition in "to begin with," a time-honored way of, well, beginning.
"It makes the writer visible" = brilliant.
At bottom (not so common) today's post was is a welcome diversion from the gloomy Substacks I've read today. I'll top it off.