The double "is", also known as the double copula, reduplicative copula, or Is-is, is the usage of the word "is" twice in a row when only one is necessary. Double is appears largely in spoken English, as in this example:My point is, is that...
Copula other than "is"
The term double is, though commonly used to describe this practice, is somewhat inaccurate, since other forms of the word (such as "was" and "were") can be used in the same manner: :The problem being, is that... According to the third edition of ''Fowler's Modern English Usage'' (as revised by Robert Burchfield), the double copula originated around 1971 in the United States and had spread to the United Kingdom by 1987. ==Explanations==
Explanations
The "double is" has been explained as an intensifier or as a way to keep the rhythm of the sentence. Some commentators recommend against using it as a matter of style (not correctness of grammar, as long as it is not following an independent clause), because some people find it awkward. ==Other uses of "double is"==
Other uses of "double is"
While not grammatically related to a double copula, a "double is" may occur when referring to the word "is" directly - indeed, such constructions appear throughout this very article. In these cases, the word "is" functions as a noun, and its general grammatical meaning is not considered. During the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal, such construction was infamously employed by Bill Clinton when he remarked "It depends on what the definition of the word 'is' is". ==See also==