[Grammar] Why is the "of" not redundant in this sentence??

[handtohsome]

Hi,

I read a paragraph in an English-learning type magazine.

This is the sentence I have a doubt about:

"Having someone to bounce your thoughts and ideas off of is crucial to help reduce the stress."

I wondered why there is an "of" after "off"?

I cannot think of any reason why the "of" should exist.

At first, I thought maybe it is a typo. The typist typed an extra and unnecessary "of".

Suddenly I thought of grammar check site.

I checked this sentence on Grammarly. (I am a free member so I can just use basic functions.)

The system said this sentence is great； it cannot find any issues.

So, this means the "of" isn't redundant.

I deleted the "of" and checked again but this time the sentence is still ok for the system.

So I wonder why the "of" exists. What word or grammatical point make its existence reasonable?

 

[Rover_KE]

The website Grammarly understandably accepts both versions.

The use of 'off of' is very common in American English.

Most British English speakers consider the 'of' to be redundant (even repugnant for some of us).

(No offence, American friends.;-))

 

[jutfrank]

It's a very common part of British English usage too.

I actually like it as it makes the sense of movement clearer.

on (static)
off (static)
onto (dynamic)
off of (dynamic)

 

[SoothingDave]

The website Grammarly understandably accepts both versions.

The use of 'off of' is very common in American English.

Most British English speakers consider the 'of' to be redundant (even repugnant for some of us).

(No offence, American friends.;-))

Even the Rolling Stones sang "Hey! You! Get off of my cloud!"

 

[jutfrank]

Also, nobody complains about out of to deliver a sense of movement. I see this as logically equivalent.

 

[jutfrank]

Even the Rolling Stones sang "Hey! You! Get off of my cloud!"

Great example, but Jagger did apparently think he was American, though, judging by the way he sang and the lyrics he wrote.

 

[Rover_KE]

And he wanted to sell his records in the USA.

 

[Yankee]

The website Grammarly understandably accepts both versions.

The use of 'off of' is very common in American English.

Most British English speakers consider the 'of' to be redundant (even repugnant for some of us).

(No offence, American friends.;-))

Actually, as an AmE speaker, I wouldn't use "off of". I think it is, for want of a better term, clumsy. Using the example, I would prefer to say/write: "Having to bounce your thoughts and ideas off someone is crucial to help reduce the stress."