Is it correct to write 'knelt before him' or 'he knelt down'

[CrimsonGenius]

Just asking

 

[Lorelliad]

I'm pretty sure this is one of those things where context matters

 

[georgelee5786]

"The knight knelt before him," and "He knelt down before the king," are both correct

 

[TsumiHokiro]

A phrasal verb vs a simple verb? Both are correct, you know? And depending on the context, they could be both correct. The trick is, which is the better image you want to portray...
"He knelt before his master" or "He knelt down before his master" have different semantic meanings. It is all in the head of the reader.

 

[RepresentingEnvy]

"The knight knelt before him," and "He knelt down before the king," are both correct

This. The context matters most.

The subject decides which one you are likely to use. If the subject is the king it is the knight kneeling before him, and if the subject is the knight he is kneeling before the king.

 

[K5Rakitan]

Pick what sounds better to you, but generally, it's good to use the fewest number of words.

 

[RepresentingEnvy]

This. The context matters most.

The subject decides which one you are likely to use. If the subject is the king it is the knight kneeling before him, and if the subject is the knight he is kneeling before the king.

Actually, disregard the subject thing. It is just whichever one is better in the context, and wholly dependent on writing style.

 

[CubicleHermit]

At least as written in the title, the two are backwards in terms of who the pronouns refer to.

He knelt down -- [person A knelt down, relation to another person unspecified]
knelt down before him -- [this is missing a subject! someone/something knelt down before person A.]

Adding a subject, and using placeholders rather than pronouns makes it clearer.

[Person A] knelt down.
[Person B] knelt down before [Person A].

Also, "before" as a preposition ( https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/before#Preposition ) in this case has a pretty loaded bunch of connotations, so if you want to indicate submission, this is great, while if you want to emphasize formality but not submission you might want to stick to "in front of"

 

[TsumiHokiro]

At least as written in the title, the two are backwards in terms of who the pronouns refer to.

He knelt down -- [person A knelt down, relation to another person unspecified]
knelt down before him -- [this is missing a subject! someone/something knelt down before person A.]

Adding a subject, and using placeholders rather than pronouns makes it clearer.

[Person A] knelt down.
[Person B] knelt down before [Person A].

Also, "before" as a preposition ( https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/before#Preposition ) in this case has a pretty loaded bunch of connotations, so if you want to indicate submission, this is great, while if you want to emphasize formality but not submission you might want to stick to "in front of"

You got the point. Hence, my examples. But it also depends on the readers' capabilities of reading things.
In the end, however, as asked by the OP, both are correct. You just have to be creative when you decide to kneel before a tough question and tackle it down with either great words or with simple words, as K5Rakitan at #6 said.
Personally, I hate kneeling down before any tough questions, but that is up to other writers.

 

[Tsuru]

Just asking

WRONG !!!!!!!!!

PROTAG SHOULDNT KNEEL DOWN IN THE FIRST PLACE !!!!
MUAHAHAHAHA !

 

[Jemini]

It is correct to tell all people you encounter to "Kneel before Zod!" Especially when it's your first time on an alien planet after spending years in an interdimensional prison.