[Grammar] how

[evarm]

Hello,
I've got a question about the use of how: is this sentence grammatically right I dress how I want? It sounds weird to me, I would have chosen like instead, but I'm in doubt.
Thanks a lot for your help, in advance.
Eva

 

[Barb_D]

Hi Eva, and welcome to Using English.

It sounds okay, though I prefer your version.

I dress ... how ... I want.
I wear my clothing ... in the manner... that pleases me.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi Eva, and welcome to Using English.

It sounds okay, though I prefer your version.

I dress ... how ... I want.
I wear my clothing ... in the manner... that pleases me.

As opposed to "wearing clothing in a manner that pleases me", I would understand "I dress how I want" to mean "I wear any clothes I want to regardless of what anyone else thinks". Maybe it's another BrE vs AmE difference.

 

[Barb_D]

I think it's the same -- in a manner that pleases me, regardless of how others feel about it. They may think I look fabulous, or they may think I should "do more with myself" but regardless of their opinion, good or bad, I dress how I want.

Did you get a different interpretation from what I wrote? I didn't mean for there to be one.

 

[emsr2d2]

I think it's the same -- in a manner that pleases me, regardless of how others feel about it. They may think I look fabulous, or they may think I should "do more with myself" but regardless of their opinion, good or bad, I dress how I want.

Did you get a different interpretation from what I wrote? I didn't mean for there to be one.

I would find "I dress" different from "I wear my clothing". I'm having trouble explaining why or how, but I'll keep thinking about it!

 

[Barb_D]

"I dress" is an even better shorthand than I thought. I guess it covers all of "the clothes/style/manner of weaing those clothes."

 

[emsr2d2]

The best description I can give of the difference I discern is that "I dress" means the clothes that I wear, and "I wear my clothing" would be ways in which specific or non-specific clothing is worn.

I dress casually = I wear casual (not formal) clothing
I wear my clothing casually = No matter what I am wearing, I wear it in a casual way (ie my shirt not tucked in to my trousers, a tie slung over my shoulder).