5 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR USE OF PREPOSITIONS
compiled by Mary Golden 2011
While hundreds of prepositions and prepositional phrases exist, many of which
are idiomatic, about 200 are commonly used in American English. Prepositions
appear more often in informal conversation than writing. Usage evolves and
varies from publication to publication.
Nevertheless, patterns remain fairly consistent and a careful writer can simplify
the process of learning those that occur most frequently in a particular field by
reading copiously and listening well. To get you into the habit of noticing
prepositions, all prepositions in the narrative part of this document appear in red.
A preposition is a single word whose job is to show the relationship between its
object—the noun or pronoun that immediately follows it—and another word in
that sentence.
Together, the preposition and object constitute a prepositional phrase. (Any
adjective modifying the object, and any adverb modifying such an adjective, is
also a part of the prepositional phrase.)
A prepositional phrase can serve as either an adjective or an adverb. If it is used
as an adjective, it can explain who, what or which. Used as an adverb, it can
explain where, when, how or why.
For example:
A single preposition that appears before a noun or pronoun shows the
relationship of that noun or pronoun to another word in the same sentence.
In the above example are four prepositional phrases. The first modifies the verb
“appears” (tells where). The second and third modify the noun “relationship”
(each tells which). The fourth modifies the noun “word” (tells which).
Although a prepositional phrase is a modifier, a preposition alone is not a
modifier.
5 PRACTICE TIPS
Besides the same advice provided to those who ask how to get to Carnegie Hall
(practice, practice, practice!), here are specific tips that will help you learn to
avoid confusing your readers by choosing the wrong prepositions.
1.
Make a list of prepositions that commonly appear in your references and
those with which you often have problems. Include sample sentences.
1
2.
Look for patterns in lieu of rules.
3.
Diagram sentences if you know how.
4.
Substitute informal preposition combinations with single words, e.g.:




“submit” rather than “hand in”
“investigate” rather than “look into”
“delay” rather than “put off”
“encounter” rather than “run across”
5.
From the following list of prepositions, make your own list based on those
used frequently in your field. Memorize these by singing them to the tune of a
song with which you are familiar.
aboard
about
above
across
after
against
along
alongside
amid
among
around
as
at
atop
barring
before
behind
below
beneath
beside
besides
between
beyond
but
by
circa
concerning
considering
2
despite
down
during
except
excepting
excluding
failing
following
for
from
in
inside
into
like
mid
minus
near
notwithstanding
of
off
on
onto
opposite
outside
over
past
per
plus
regarding
round
save
since
than
3
through
throughout
till
to
toward
towards
under
underneath
unlike
until
unto
up
upon
versus
via
with
within
without
worth
Common Multiple Word Prepositions
according to
ahead of
apart from
as far as
as to
as well as
aside from
because of
behind in
by means of
close to
contrary to
due to
except for
far from
in accordance with
in addition to
in back of
in case of
in front of
in lieu of
4
in light of
in place of
in regard to
in regards to
in spite of
inside of
instead of
in to
in view of
near to
next to
on account of
on behalf of
on board
on to
on top of
out from
out of
outside of
owing to
prior to
pursuant to
rather than
regardless of
subsequent to
that of
Variations of this list plus sample sentences and exercises are available on
numerous websites, e.g.:
http://writing.umn.edu
http://www.listofprepositions.com/
http://www.paulnoll.com/Books/Clear-English/English-prepositions.html
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/prepositions-list.htm
http://www.learnamericanenglishonline.com/Prepositions/Prepositions_List.html
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