Sextus  +  283255 Thu, 19 Oct 06 11:02 PM "They are not aware of the skeptical origin of the problematic they deal with." "They are not aware of the skeptical origin of the problematic with which they deal." In formal writing, is it better to use the second phrasing? Thanks Sextus Joined on Sat, Nov 6 2004 Buenos Aires Regular Member 731

	Tanit  +  283258 Thu, 19 Oct 06 11:08 PM Isn't problematic an adjective? Did you mean problem? Tanit Joined on Mon, Jul 31 2006 Senior Member 3,040 There is no greater pain than to remember a happy time when one is in misery. (Dante)

	Sextus  +  283263 Thu, 19 Oct 06 11:23 PM I've seen it used as a noun in, e.g., the expression "the Pyrrhonian problematic". Sextus Nouns

	Tanit  +  283268 Thu, 19 Oct 06 11:32 PM Interesting, thank you. Tanit

	Grammar Geek  +  283278 Fri, 20 Oct 06 12:06 AM I think that the "never end a sentence with a preposition" has been pretty well killed off. In my own opinion, "with which they deal" sounds artificial.  I would use your first example. (Although the point about missing a noun remains.) Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,683 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Prepositions, Nouns

	Sextus  +  283284 Fri, 20 Oct 06 12:12 AM Thanks, GG. Yes, it sounded artificial to me, too. That's why I asked. Regarding the "missing noun", "problematic" has been used as a noun, as I said. If you google it, you'll find the expressions "Pyrrhonian problematic" and "skeptical problematic". Cheers Sextus Nouns

	Marius Hancu  +  283314 Fri, 20 Oct 06 02:46 AM  Grammar Geek wrote: I think that the "never end a sentence with a preposition" has been pretty well killed off. In my own opinion, "with which they deal" sounds artificial.  I would use your first example. missing a noun remains.) Same here. Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Veteran Member 11,673 Grammar, Prepositions, Nouns

	Grammarian-bot  +  283350 Fri, 20 Oct 06 04:44 AM Well guys, according to my search results, problematic is an adjective. 1. Wiktionary               http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/problematic 2. World Web Online   http://www.wordwebonline.com/en/PROBLEMATIC GB Grammarian-bot Joined on Sun, May 7 2006 PAKISTAN Full Member 449 The best way to learn is to learn from your mistakes.