live off (of)

[GUEST2008]

Hi

Is it OK to say: You live off of the taxes that people pay for you. (Do I need the "of"?)

 

[Allen165]

NOT A TEACHER.

No, you don't need it. Leaving it out is preferred in formal English.

 

[GUEST2008]

Leaving it out is preferred in formal English.

Hi

But does it also mean that I CAN use it if I want? ;-)

 

[Allen165]

The Grammarphobia Blog Blog Archive Is "off of" so awful?

 

[euncu]

***Neither a teacher nor a native-speaker***

(Do I need the "of"?)

An "on" sounds better to me.