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The title of which, which title

Posted by R. Berg on August 23, 2003

In Reply to: The title of which, which title posted by GPP on August 23, 2003

: : : Hi!

: : : A book says only the first sentence is acceptable. I don't know why the second sentence is not acceptable.

: : : The movie The Wizard of Oz, _________ is taken from the book of the same name, has been a children's favorite for years.

: : : a) the title of which
: : : b) which title

: : : Thanks for your help.

: : : Tom

: : I have to admit I don't either, except that b) is a little more formal and fussier-sounding--but maybe I'm missing some fine point of grammar.

: Oh, I think I see--the subject of the sentence is the word "movie", not "The Wizard of Oz"; and "movie" isn't a title. That's why.

I believe "which title" was acceptable in English two or three hundred years ago but isn't standard today.

The sentence could also say (correctly) ". . . Oz, a title taken from the book of the same name," or ". . . Oz, whose title is taken from the book of the same name."

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