Tips for Using Prepositions Properly

In an effort to persuade people to use prepositions properly, it makes sense to explain the rules and then demonstrate when the rules may be broken. Following are a few tips on proper preposition use, and when these tips may be eschewed for the sake of common sense and functionality.

Remember the Relationship

Prepositions demonstrate a relationship: the relationship of an object to its environment, or its place in a proper phrase. Basic preposition use begs an understanding of what these relationships are. To begin with, prepositions should be used to demonstrate place, time, and direction. Take, for example, the sentence “Put the check in the box at the bank across the street by 6:00.” This sentence uses four prepositions properly. In and at demonstrate the place where the check is to be put. Across the street shows us the direction of the bank. Finally, the word by clues us in to when the check should be placed into the box—by 6:00. Prepositions can also be used to demonstrate other relationships, such as accompaniment (I went with him), mission (we cried for help), and instrument (they traveled by train). Remembering these relationships is the first key toward using prepositions correctly.

Recall Collocations

Collocations are those words attached to prepositions that can make the prepositional phrase clear, or inappropriately applied, confusing. Proper use of prepositions means choosing the correct preposition for the sentence one hundred percent of the time. This is not one of those rules that can be broken. Misuse of collocations will make a sentence sound foolish, and will degrade oral or written communication into a grammarless cesspool. Take, for example, the word “accuse.” A person is accused of a crime. They are not accused by the crime (that is, the crime is not doing the accusing), for a crime (as though the crime is something worth merit), with a crime (they and the crime are not associated together). Being accused of a crime does not imply as close an association as being charged with a crime, which associates the crime and the accused more closely. Similarly, you give a speech on a subject, not about; you are addicted to television, not with it; you blame some for, not with or about.

Ending Sentences

The mother of all preposition rules is, “never end a sentence with a preposition!” In many cases, this rule makes perfect sense; otherwise you would expect to see “never end a sentence a preposition with!” In truth, the rule is far more complicated. For instance, people often ask one another “where did you come from?” It sounds much clunkier to say, “from where have you come?” or to use the antiquated “whence have you come?” In everyday use—in fact, even in formal writing—“where did you come from” is entirely appropriate and encouraged because it is a commonly used, commonly accepted phrase. However, there are times when you may need to reconsider your use of prepositions at the end of a sentence because writing it properly simply makes the most sense. The gratuitous preposition tacked onto the end of questions like “where is the theater at?” and “where are we going to?” can be omitted entirely to create “where is the theater?” and “where are we going?” Similarly, “that’s the girl Bryan’s in love with” can easily be said and written as, “that’s the girl with whom Bryan is in love” without sounding silly.

Tips for Using Prepositions Properly