Prepositions--ending with, MORE

I think it's okay to end sentences with prepositions, especially to avoid a stilted or stuffy construction. When I posted that opinion and some before-and-after examples, I got some good comments.

Two commenters wanted to rewrite even my preposition-ending sentences. Both offered good revisions, though both called their revisions "better." This means the idea that we should not end sentences with prepositions still has a rule-like status. You see, ending with a preposition may be okay, but not doing it is even better.

My commenters, I suspect, are real lawyers, practicing law. This is one of those times when I'm glad I'm not a real lawyer; no judges or supervisors scrutinize my writing. I live in academia, writing what I want, how I want, when I want. I'm lucky. So when real lawyers ask me about the rule, I usually tell them that to be safe, don't end sentences with prepositions.

In truth, I think ending with a preposition is fine. I assert there's never been a rule against it. Garner calls the rule "spurious" in Garner's Modern American Usage at 633. And I do it whenever I want.

Besides, I think in one case, my preposition-ending sentence was still better than my commenters' revisions. You judge:

Theirs:
1. When I consulted Black's Law Dictionary, I could not find the word I was seeking.
1. When I consulted Black's Law Dictionary, I could not find the word I wanted.

Mine:
1. When I consulted Black's Law Dictionary, I could not find the word I was looking for.

No big deal, but mine is more colloquial, a trait I like and one I'd like to see in more legal writing.