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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.
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