Plain English Part 69

Would you say:

The invention of gunpowder, or gunpowder's invention?

The destruction of Louvain, or Louvain's destruction?

The siege of Antwerp, or Antwerp's siege?

The boat's keel, or the keel of the boat?

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: