COMMON ERRORS

322. Prepositions are usually very small and seemingly unimportant words, yet we make a great many mistakes in their use. It is these little mistakes that are most difficult to avoid.

Notice carefully in your own speech this week, and in the conversation which you overhear, the use of the prepositions. Notice especially the following cautions:

1. Do not use prepositions needlessly. We often throw a preposition in at the close of a sentence which we have already used in the sentence, and which we should not use again. The little preposition at is most frequently used in this way. See how many times this week you hear people use such phrases as:

At which store do you trade at?
At what corner did you stop at?

The last at is entirely unnecessary. It has already been used once and that is enough. We also use at and to at the close of sentences beginning with an interrogative adverb, where they are not necessary. For example, we say:

Where did you go to?
Where did you stop at?
Where am I at?

The correct form of these sentences is:

Where did you go?
Where did you stop?
Where am I?

Do not use at and to in this way, they are entirely superfluous and give a most disagreeable sound to the sentence. Do not close a sentence with a preposition in this way.

2. Do not omit the preposition where it properly belongs. For example, we often say:

The idea is no use to me.

We should say, The idea is of no use to me.

I was home yesterday.

We should say, I was at home yesterday.

3. Do not use the preposition of with a verb that requires an object. The noun cannot be the object of both the verb and the preposition. As, for example:

He does not remember of seeing you.
Do you approve of his action?

Remember and approve are both incomplete verbs requiring an object, and the nouns seeing and action are the objects of the incomplete verbs remember and approve. The preposition of is entirely superfluous. The sentences should read:

He does not remember seeing you.
Do you approve his action?

Other verbs with which we commonly use the preposition of in this way are the verbs accept and recollect. As, for example:

Will you accept of this kindness?
Will you try to recollect of it?

These sentences should read:

Will you accept this kindness?
Will you try to recollect it?

The Correct Preposition

323. We make a great many mistakes also in the choice of prepositions. For example, the preposition between refers to two objects and should never be used when you are speaking of more than two, thus:

We settled the quarrel between the two men.

This is correct, but it is incorrect to say:

We settled the quarrel between the members of the Union.

We cannot settle a quarrel between a dozen people. When there are more than two, use the word among. We can perhaps attempt to settle a quarrel among a dozen people. Between refers to two objects, among refers to more than two. For example:

Divide the work between the two men.
Divide the work among twenty men.

324. Do not confuse the use of in and into. When entrance is denoted use into. As, for example:

He came into the room.
He got into the auto.

Often the use of in will give an entirely different meaning to the sentence. For example:

He ran in the water.
He ran into the water.
The man acted as our guide in the city.
The man acted as our guide into the city.
The horse ran in the pasture.
The horse ran into the pasture.

325. Do not use below and under to mean less or fewer in regard to an amount or number. Below and under have reference to place only. It is correct to say:

He went under the bridge.
He came out below the falls.

But it is incorrect to say:

The price is below cost.
There were under fifty present.

Say instead:

The price is less than cost.
There were fewer than fifty present.

326. Do not misuse over and above. These prepositions have reference only to place. They are incorrectly used to mean more than or greater than.

It is correct to say:

The boat anchored above the landing.
He flew over the city.

It is incorrect to say:

He bought above a hundred acres.
He lives over a mile from here.

These sentences should be:

He bought more than a hundred acres.
He lives more than a mile from here.