by Sentenceworks
Preposition
Prepositions are words which define time or place, such as “in”, “on”, “under”, “at”, “with”, “in front of”, “before” and “after”. Many sentences have multiple prepositions so the reader can clearly understand the writer’s intentions.
Missing A Preposition
When using indefinite numbers like “thousands” or “billions” (rather than three thousand, or a hundred billion), the numbers should be followed by “of”.
Incorrect: I have millions things to do today.
Because “millions” is being used as an indefinite number, there should be an “of” after “millions”.
Incorrect: Pollution of the environment has affected the health of billions people.
Because “billions” is being used as an indefinite number, there should be an “of” after “billions”.Prepositions act like bridges between the subject and the object of the sentence, giving the reader the temporal or spatial relationship between the subject and the object (where or when something is). Some common prepositions are: about, across, after, against, along, among, around, before, below, beneath, despite, down, during, for, from, near, of, off, out, outside, over, past, since, through, to, under, until, up, with, and without.
Unnecessary Preposition
Some words don’t require modification by a preposition, and the preposition causes redundancy. Take, for example, the verb “attack”; when used in the active voice, the reader already knows the attack is on someone, so the verb does not required a preposition for modification. Now, in the passive voice, it’s a different matter: “He was attacked by a dog.” The same applies when the word is used as a noun: “There was a bear attack on a hiker.”
Incorrect: The Olympic skier was awarded with a gold medal.
“Awarded” doesn’t require the preposition “with”; the preposition should be removed.
Incorrect: Could you please carry this box to downstairs?
“To” is not required in this sentence as the reader already understands “downstairs” is a place. “To” should be removed.
N.B. Sometimes, it’s a matter of meaning:
Correct: Give me a drink.
Correct: Give the drink to me.
Ending A Sentence With A Preposition
In informal conversation, we often end a sentence with apreposition.When writing formally, ending a sentence with a preposition should be avoided.
Incorrect: I have absolutely no idea what the professor is talking about.
“About” is a preposition; the sentence would be clearer if written, “I have absolutely no idea about that which the professor is talking.” If this tone is too formal, the sentence could be re-written: I have absolutely no idea what the professor is saying.
Incorrect: When I glanced at the table, I saw the dog was hiding beneath.
While the reader gets the general idea of the sentence, the image is not entirely clear. To be more specific, we could write, “When I glanced at the table, I saw the dog was hiding beneath it”, or, perhaps, “…beneath one of the chairs.”
Wrong preposition
Each preposition has a different meaning, though some of the differences may be slight. Seriously consider the relationship between the noun (or pronoun) and it’s object, and select the preposition which best describes that relationship.
Correct: I will meet you later at the library.
Correct: I will meet you later in the library.
Incorrect: Put the books in the table.
As a table involves a flat, solid surface, it would be difficult to put books in a table. More likely, books would be put on the table, or in a bag.
Incorrect: Look on it.
This is not a sentence we use in English. Generally, we say, “Look at it.”
Despite of
Both “despite” and “in spite of” mean “notwithstanding”. However, “despite” should not be followed by the preposition, “of” because “despite” is a preposition, and there is no need to have two prepositions beside each other. The “of” can be left out of the sentence, or the phrase “in spite of” can be used instead.
Incorrect: Despite of his early morning classes, John went to a party last night.
“Of” can be removed from this sentence, or the phrase, “in spite of” can be used: In spite of his early morning classes, John went to a party last night.
Incorrect: People continue to drive cars, despite of the obvious negative effects on the environment.
“Of” can be removed from this sentence, or the phrase, “in spite of” can be used: People continue to drive cars, in spite of the obvious negative effects on the environment.
Discuss about
The verb, “discuss”, does not require a preposition following it (with the exception of phrases like “discuss it with someone”, where a pronoun follows “discuss” ). Prepositions explain the time or space relationships between two things; “about” should not follow “discuss”, as the verb does not require time or space to be clarified.
Incorrect: We need to have a short meeting to discuss about tomorrow’s big meeting.
“About” can be removed from this sentence, as “discuss” does not need further modification.
Incorrect: There is no need to discuss about this any further.
“About” is unnecessary in this sentence, and can be removed.
Be Careful Of
In English, you can “be careful of” something or someone; you can “be careful with” someone or something; you can “be careful about” something; you can even “ be careful in” something or somewhere. You cannot “be careful for” someone or something; it isn’t a phrase we use.
Incorrect: Be careful for that broken glass!
This sentence should be changed to “Be careful of that broken glass!”
Incorrect: Be careful for that box: it’s heavy.
Correct: Be careful with that box: it’s heavy.
Incorrect: Be careful for the wilderness because it’s easy to get hurt out there.
Correct: Be careful in the wilderness because it’s easy to get hurt out there.
Be Disappointed By
In English, you can “be disappointed by” something; you can “be disappointed with” someone; you can “be disappointed about” something; you can even “ be disappointed in” someone. You cannot “be disappointed from” someone or something; it isn’t a phrase we use. “By”, “about” or “at” can be used before a thing; “with” or “in” can be used before a person.
N.B. “To be disappointed at”, while grammatically acceptable, looks very strange to many readers. It may be better to use “disappointed with”.
Incorrect: I was disappointed from my grade in the Economics course.
Correct: I was disappointed by my grade in the Economics course.
Incorrect: Mothers are sometimes disappointed from their children.
Correct: Mothers are sometimes disappointed in their children.
Incorrect: Mary is quite disappointed from missing the party.
Correct: Mary is quite disappointed about missing the party.
To Boast About
In English, you can “boast about” something or someone, or you can “boast of” something. You cannot “boast for” someone or something; it isn’t a phrase we use.
Incorrect: Instead of boasting for your strength, why don’t you come carry these groceries?
The preposition in this sentence could be either “about” or “of”: “Instead of boasting about your strength…” or “Instead of boasting of your strength….”
Incorrect: He constantly boasts for his grades.
Correct: He constantly boasts about his grades.
Exception: You can “boast of” or “boast about” someone or something “for” someone.
Correct: I boasted about my mother’s musical abilities for her, as she showed no signs of doing it herself.
To Complain About
In English, you can “complain about” something or someone, or you can “complain of” something. You cannot “complain for” someone or something; it isn’t a phrase we use.
Incorrect: Martha didn’t go to class today because she was complaining for a stomach ache.
Correct: Martha didn’t go to class today because she was complaining of a stomach ache.
Incorrect: He constantly complains for his grades.
Correct: He constantly complains about his grades.
To Have No Doubt About
In English, you can “have no doubt about” something or someone. Although it sounds a little formal, you can also “have no doubt of” something. You cannot “have no doubt for” someone or something; it isn’t a phrase we use.
Incorrect: There is no doubt for the outcome of the election.
The preposition “for” should be replaced with “about”.
Correct: There is no doubt about the outcome of the election.
Incorrect: I have no doubt for your artistic abilities.
In this sentence, “for” could be replaced with either “of” or “about”:
Correct: I have no doubt of your artistic abilities.
Correct: I have no doubt about your artistic abilities.
N.B. The phrase can also be used without a preposition.
Correct: I have no doubt he’ll wake up when he smells breakfast cooking.
As A Conclusion
If the phrase, “as a conclusion” is used, it means, “as an ending”. The phrase, “in conclusion”, means “to end this”. Formal writing is generally ended with a concluding paragraph or statement, and this paragraph or statement can begin with “in conclusion”. This phrase is used to neatly end an argument or debate.
Incorrect: As a conclusion, Darcy should not have asked Elizabeth to marry him, as there is no evidence of true love.
In this sentence, we do not want to the introductory phrase to mean “as an ending”. “In conclusion” should be used instead, because we want it to mean “to end this argument”.
Incorrect: As a conclusion, it is obvious feminism has effected literature greatly.
“As a conclusion” should be replaced with “in conclusion”.
Correct: I don’t know whether to use the cannons as a conclusion to the symphony, or just the bass drums.
Here, we do want the meaning “as an ending” to the symphony.
Faulty Parallelism
Ensure your prepositions apply either to only the first element in a series, or to each element. By not doing so, you may be creating faulty parallelism. Prepositions should be used accurately yet sparingly; do not repeat prepositions unnecessarily, but ensure each item in your list is properly modified.
Incorrect: When the blender was turned on, the lid flew off and the milkshake splattered on the walls, the sink and the counter.
Generally, we do not use “on the sink” in English. This sentence may be better written as, “…the milkshake splattered on the walls and the counter, and in the sink.”
Redundant prepositions
When a clause uses a pattern of words, unnecessary repetition of that pattern can make the sentence difficult to understand. When the word pattern involves a preposition, the preposition does not need to be repeated.
Prepositions are words which define time or place, such as in, on, under, at, with, in front of, before and after.
Incorrect: In the 1920’s and in the 1930’s, European literature was deeply affected by the aftermath of The Great War.
The preposition in applies to both the 1920’s and the 1930’s; repetition before the 1930’sis unnecessary, and may disrupt the flow of the sentence.
Incorrect: The housekeeper came on Monday, on Tuesday and on Wednesday.
As the days are consecutive, there is no need to repeat the preposition on.
Correct: The housekeeper came on Monday, Tuesday, and then again on Friday.
Because the word pattern used with Monday and Tuesday is broken by and then again, on should be used before Friday.