Chapter 12

Prepositions

Clearness and elegance of style are, in no small degree, dependent upon the choice and right use of prepositions. Many rules have been formulated, some of which are deserving of consideration, while others are nearly or quite useless. Among the latter may be mentioned, by way of illustration, the oft-repeated rule that _between_ or _betwixt_ must invariably be used when only two things are referred to, and that _among_ must be employed when more than two are named. While it is true that the order could not be reversed, that _among,_ when used, must be employed in reference to three or more persons or things, and that _between_ may always be employed in speaking of two objects, yet the practice of many of the best writers does not limit the use of _between_ to two objects. In fact, there are cases in which _among_ will not take the place of _between;_ as, “I set out eighty trees with ample space _between_ them.” “The stones on his farm were so plentiful that the grass could not grow up _between_ them.”

Between, Among

“The seven children divided the apples _between_ them.” Two children may divide apples _between,_ them, but in this case it is better to say, “The seven children divided the apples _among_ them.”

George Eliot, in _Middlemarch,_ says: “The fight lay entirely _between _Pinkerton, the old Tory member; Bagster, the new Whig member; and Brook, the Independent member.” In this case, _between_ or _with_ is more satisfactory than _among,_ although three persons are referred to.

Choice

Many sentences betoken ignorance and others indicate extreme carelessness on the part of the writers by the inapt choice of their prepositions, which often express relations so delicate in their distinctions that nothing short of an extended study of the best writers will confer the desired skill. We present some examples.

By, In

“We do not accept the proposition referred to _by_ your letter.” The writer should have employed the preposition _in._

Differ with, From

We differ _with_ a person in opinion or belief; we differ _from_ him in appearance, in attainments, in wealth, in rank, etc.

Different from, To, Than

“Your story is very plausible, but Henry’s is different _to _that.” “My book is quite different _than_ his.” The adjective _different_ must not be followed by the preposition _to_ or _than. _The sentences will be correct when _from_ is substituted.

At, To

Never use the vulgar expression, “He is _to_ home.” Say _at home._

Preferred before, To

“He was _preferred before_ me.” Say _preferred to me._

With, Of

“He died _with_ consumption.” _Of_ is the proper preposition to employ. But we say, He is afflicted _with_ rheumatism, or bronchitis, or other disease.

In respect of, To

“In respect _of_ this matter, he is at fault.” Better, _“to_ this matter.”

Of, From

“He was acquitted _from_ the charge of larceny.” Acquitted _of _the charge.

In, Into

_Into_ implies direction or motion. “They walked _into_ the church,” means that they entered it from the outside. “They walked _in_ the church,” means that they walked back and forth within the church.

“The vessel is _in_ port.” “She came _into_ port yesterday.”

Of, In

“There was no use _of_ asking his permission, for he would not grant it.” _In_ asking.

In, On

“He is a person _in_ whom you can rely.” “That is a man _in_ whose statements you can depend.” Use _on_ for _in._

To, With

Two persons are reconciled _to_ each other; two doctrines or measures are reconciled _with_ each other when they are made to agree.

“This noun is in apposition _to_ that.” Use _with._

With, By

These two prepositions are often confounded. They have a similarity of signification with a difference of use. Both imply a connection between some instrument or means and the agent by whom it is used. _With_ signifies the closer relation and _by_ the more remote one.

It is said that an ancient king of Scotland once asked his nobles by what tenure they held their lands. The chiefs drew their swords, saying, _“By _these we acquired our lands, and _with_ these we will defend them.”

_By_ often relates to the person; _with_ to the instrument.

“He lay on the ground half concealed _with_ a clump of bushes.” “That speech was characterized _with_ eloquence.” Use _by_ in the last two sentences.

With, To

We _correspond with_ a person when we exchange letters. In speaking of the adaptation of one object to another, the preposition _to _should be used after the verb correspond; as, “This picture corresponds _to_ that.” _With_ is often incorrectly used in such cases instead of _to._

Position

The old grammarian gave a very good rule when he said, “A preposition is a very bad word to end a sentence with;” but it is sometimes easier to follow his example than his precept. In general, the strength of a sentence is improved by not placing small particles at the end.

“Which house do you live _in?”_ Better, “In which house do you live?”

“Avarice is a vice which most men are guilty _of.”_ Say, “of which most men are guilty.”

“He is a man that you should be acquainted _with.”_ Say, _“with _whom you should be acquainted.”

“Is this the man that you spoke _of?”_ Better, _“of_ whom you spoke.”

“These are principles that our forefathers died _for.”_ Rather, _“for _which our forefathers died.”

Omission

Prepositions are often omitted when their use is necessary to the correct grammatical construction of the sentence.

“They now live on this side the river.” Say, “on this side _of_ the river.”

“Esther and Helen sit opposite each other.” It is more correct to say, “sit opposite _to_ each other.”

“John is worthy our help.” Better, “_of_ our help.”

“What use is this to us?” _Of_ what use, etc.

“This law was passed the same year that I was born.” Say, “In the same year,” etc.

“Washington was inaugurated President April 30, 1789.” Some critics insist upon the insertion of _on_ before a date, as _“on_ April 30,” but general usage justifies its omission. With equal force they might urge the use of _in_ before 1789. The entire expression of day, month, and year is elliptical.

If the same preposition be required by several nouns or pronouns, it must be repeated in every case if it be repeated at all. “He is interested _in _philosophy, history, and _in_ science.” This sentence may be corrected by placing _in_ before history or by omitting it before science. The several subjects are individualized more strongly by the use of _in _before each noun. This is shown in the greater obscurity given to _history_ by the omission of the preposition in the foregoing sentence.

“We may have a feeling of innocence or of guilt, of merit or demerit.” Insert _of_ before demerit.

Needless Prepositions

Prepositions, like other parts of speech that contribute nothing to the meaning, should not be suffered to cumber the sentence.

Where am I _at?_ Where is my book _at?_ I went there _at_ about noon. In what latitude is Chicago _in?_ Where are you going _to? _Take your hat off _of_ the table. Where has James been _to?_ They offered _to_ Caesar a crown. This is a subject _of_ which I intended to speak _about_ (omit _of_ or _about,_ but not both). She has a sister _of_ ten years old. Leap _in_ with me into this angry flood.

The older writers employed the useless _for_ in such expressions as, What went ye out _for_ to see? The apostles and elders came together _for _to consider _of_ this matter.

All of

A very common error is the unnecessary use of the preposition _of_ after _all;_ as, “during _all of_ this period,” “in _all of_ these cases,” “for _all of_ the conditions,” etc.

Up above

In most cases one of these prepositions will be found useless. “The ladder reached _up above_ the chimney.”

From hence

The adverbs _hence, thence, whence,_ include the idea of _from._ The preposition should, therefore, be omitted.