Problem Prepositions

143 Problem Prepositions C HAPTER 5 Problem Prepositions 143 As a class, prepositions tend to be pretty agreeable. They go where they’re told and do what’s asked of them. But they are persnickety on a few points, such as how and when they are to be paired up with a given verb, whether or not they feel like hanging out alone at the end of a sentence, and how to get other parts of speech to stop barging in on their territory. The following entries represent the most common errors made with prepositions. Prepositions Expressing Fine Shades of Meaning 54. Agree to vs. Agree with Don’t Say: Are you saying you agree to their arguments? Say Instead: Are you saying you agree with their arguments? Here’s Why: How do you know whether to use “to” or “with”? “Agree to” introduces an infinitive form of a verb such as “to jump,” “to suppose,” or “to annoy.” It means to consent n Bad Grammar Ch 05.pmd 3/17/2004, 9:46 AM143 144 When Bad Grammar Happens to Good People to, as in consenting to fulfill the terms of a contract. “Agree with” introduces a noun. It means to be in accord or alignment with, as in agreeing with a point of view. So in this sentence, where we don’t have an infinitive, and where we’re talking about being on the same side in an argument, “agree with” is correct. Additional correct examples are: Joe agreed to stay if Aunt Fannie would let him have the dark meat. I agree with you, but that doesn’t mean I like you. We knew they were too naïve to get married when they agreed to obey each other. She has always agreed with his philosophy on work. 55. Differ with vs. Differ from Don’t Say: We differed from the Trumbles on their right to park their cars on our front lawn. Say Instead: We differed with the Trumbles on their right to park their cars on our front lawn. Here’s Why: “Differ from” means to be unlike, as in one dress differing from another. “Differ with” means to disagree with, as in differing with a point of view, which is the case in our example sentence. Additional examples are: You can differ with me without getting huffy about it. Only their parents can tell how the twins differ from one another. The two sides differed with each other on several points but finally worked out an agreement. How do you do differ from your predecessor? 56. Different from vs. Different than Don’t Say: Hey, my invitation looks different than hers. Say Instead: Hey, my invitation looks different from hers. n Bad Grammar Ch 05.pmd 3/17/2004, 9:46 AM144 145 Problem Prepositions Here’s Why: “Different from” is standard, always ac- ceptable. But there is a range of opinions from usage experts on the appropriateness of “different than.” “Different than” is acceptable to less conservative speakers when it is followed by a clause, as in I felt different than I did the last time I took this medication. (More conservative speakers veto “different than” altogether, and would rephrase such a sentence so that “different from” would be followed by a noun or pronoun.) What’s never a good idea is using “different than” when mak- ing a quick, straightforward comparison between two persons or things, as we did in our example. In other words, don’t say A is different than B. Additional correct examples are: His style is different from hers. Will you take a different route than the one you took the last time you went there? Can you tell if this engraving is different from that one? Test: Prepositions Expressing Fine Shades of Meaning Please circle the correct choice. 1. Elvira reluctantly (agreed to, agreed with) knit booties for all the quintuplets. 2. Unfortunately the cannibals did not (agree to, agree with) Fred’s theory that eating people is wrong. 3. We would have gotten along splendidly if we didn’t (differ with, differ from) each other on all philosophical, moral, and political questions. 4. His account of the 12-car pile-up was (different from, dif- ferent than) hers. 5. She gave a very different account (than, from) he did of the 12-car pile-up. 6. When Zelda recovered from the effects of the champagne, she found she had married a man (different than, different from) her fiancé. n Bad Grammar Ch 05.pmd 3/17/2004, 9:46 AM145 146 When Bad Grammar Happens to Good People 7. Is this tie really (different than, different from) the one you gave me last year? Answer Key: Prepositions That Express Fine Shades of Meaning 1. agreed to. 2. agree with. 3. differ with. Don’t forget that “differ from” is correct when you’re comparing physical qualities rather than opinions. The following example is correct: Horace was chagrined to discover that his $500 radio hardly differed from the cheap knockoff his brother had bought at a flea market. 4. different from. 5. different than. More conservative speakers believe that “different than” should never be used. In a case like this one, a conservative speaker would first rephrase the sen- tence so that it makes a quick comparison, and then use “different from”: His account of the 12-car pile-up was different from the one that she gave. 6. different from. 7. different from. Unidiomatic and Superfluous Prepositions 57. Centers around Don’t Say: Their problem centers around the fact that his business is failing. Say Instead: Their problem centers on the fact that his business is failing. Here’s Why: It is impossible for anything to “center around.” A center is the exact middle of something, so by n Bad Grammar Ch 05.pmd 3/17/2004, 9:46 AM146 147 Problem Prepositions definition it cannot be around anything else—it would no longer be the center. A thing can center on or in something else, it can be centered by something else, but it can never be centered around. 58. Where…At Don’t Say: Where are they at? Say Instead: Where are they? Here’s Why: The preposition “at” is always unnecessary with “where.” It performs the same job in the sentence by referring to location, which is what the “where” is there for in the first place. The use of “at” in this way is not uncommon, but it is a big tip-off to others that you’re careless. 59. As to Don’t Say: I accepted the diamond necklace as a gift without inquiring as to its history. Say Instead: I accepted the diamond necklace as a gift without inquiring about its history. Here’s Why: Usage experts aren’t unanimous on this one, but there is a widespread belief that the phrase “as to” is more often than not pretentious-sounding clutter. “As to” does have appropriate uses, such as when you want to begin a sentence by putting a lot of emphasis on a word or phrase that would otherwise have to come later. For example: As to his health, we did not inquire for fear of angering him. Or: As to your decision on the highway project, I cannot agree with you. The kind of use of “as to” that is usually frowned on is employ- ing it as a substitute for prepositions—a use that seems irresist- ible to folks who are trying to sound businesslike or formal but which generally ends up having the opposite effect. The fol- lowing are some more examples of “as to” replacing a preposi- tion, each paired with a preferred version (note that there is n Bad Grammar Ch 05.pmd 3/17/2004, 9:46 AM147 148 When Bad Grammar Happens to Good People more than one way to improve these; only one option has been selected). Instead of His opinions as to her character, say His opinions on her character. Instead of The meeting as to which O’Brien was called, say The meeting to which O’Brien was called. Instead of We’re deciding as to the future goals of the committee, say We’re deciding upon the future goals of the committee. 60. Off of Don’t Say: When he gets off of his soapbox, maybe we can get some work done. Say Instead: When he gets off his soapbox, maybe we can get some work done. Here’s Why: You don’t need the “of” after off, the way you would after some other prepositions such as “out,” as in he got out of the car. When you’re using “off” simply say he got off the bus, and leave it at that. 61. Over with Don’t Say: Is the meeting over with? Say Instead: Is the meeting over? Here’s Why: “Over with” is an informal phrase that ex- presses an intense desire to complete an unpleasant task. If that’s what you mean, go ahead and say it, as in Let’s get this over with or Isn’t Bob’s recitation of his five-book epic poem over with yet? But if you’re simply referring to something as being finished, as is the case with the meeting here, then stick to “over” by itself. n Bad Grammar Ch 05.pmd 3/17/2004, 9:46 AM148 149 Problem Prepositions 62. Type of a Don’t Say: Hey, what type of a place are you running here? Say Instead: Hey, what type of place are you running here? Here’s Why: When using the phrase “type of,” the extra “a” is always unnecessary and incorrect. Just say type of job, type of flower, type of lipstick, plain and simple. Test: Unidiomatic and Superfluous Prepositions Please circle the correct choice. 1. Maurice’s whole life (centers on, centers around) caring for his prize cactus. 2. Rex drove around for hours because he was too embar- rassed to ask anyone where the Shyness Clinic (was, was at). 3. I refuse to start cooking until you get that cat (off, off of) the kitchen counter. 4. I am writing to inform you (as to, about) the goals of our new 25-year budget plan. 5. Well, thank goodness that’s (over, over with)—I thought the speech would never end. 6. I’ll help you with your algebra homework as soon as my favorite TV program is (over, over with). 7. What (type of, type of a) question is that? Answer Key: Unidiomatic and Superfluous Prepositions 1. centers on. 2. was. 3. off. n Bad Grammar Ch 05.pmd 3/17/2004, 9:46 AM149 150 When Bad Grammar Happens to Good People 4. about. 5. over with. Here, the speaker clearly awaits the end of the speech with great eagerness, so the intensifier “with” is appropriate. 6. over. Here, the speaker is matter-of-factly referring to the end of a TV program, and not to something that seems unbearably long, so “over” is appropriate. 7. type of. n Bad Grammar Ch 05.pmd 3/17/2004, 9:46 AM150 . 143 Problem Prepositions C HAPTER 5 Problem Prepositions 143 As a class, prepositions tend to be pretty agreeable Superfluous Prepositions 57. Centers around Don’t Say: Their problem centers around the fact that his business is failing. Say Instead: Their problem centers