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Prepositions are function words like "to", "over", "through", "in". The meaning of a sentence can be dramatically altered by choosing the wrong preposition. Questions need to include enough information for the intended meaning to be deduced.
5
votes
“The influence of ... on/upon ...”
The choice between on and upon in the sentence
We study the influence of anion size on/upon localisation
is not merely a matter of style. Two entirely different meanings are possible.
With on: …
8
votes
"On the weekend" or "during the weekend"
The best choice for your construction would be over the weekend.
8
votes
Accepted
Why 'in itself', why not just 'itself'?
According to my dictionary (New Oxford American, 2e), the phrase in itself means
viewed in its essential qualities; considered separately from other things
Plug in this meaning into your sentenc …
2
votes
Which one is correct? "Look here" or "Look at here"?
It is incorrect to use at in this case. You could say any of the following in the imperative sense:
Look here
Look at this
Look at this place
3
votes
Accepted
What is the proper preposition for this question?
The New Oxford American Dictionary defines according to as:
as stated by or in
If you only had one-word prepositions to choose from, then on would be your next best option, although I would not …
17
votes
Accepted
"Programs running in/on machine”
Programs run on, and not in, a computer or machine.
I can run Windows on my mac using Boot Camp.
Memory-intensive applications run on my multicore monster of a machine like a dream.
Co …
43
votes
Accepted
"Outside" or "outside of"?
The preposition/adverb, outside, and the compound preposition, outside of, both have the same meaning: beyond the boundaries/limits of _
The New Oxford American Dictionary provides an excellent expos …
5
votes
What is correct, "in-stock" or "on-stock"?
It should be
Do we have products in stock?
where in stock functions as an adjective. If products are not in stock (available), then they are out of stock. When these adjectives precede the nouns …
3
votes
Accepted
What part of speech is "unless" in the following sentence?
In the sentence,
Unless disciplined, a dog becomes a household pest
unless is a conjunction*. This sentence is really a reduction of
Unless it is disciplined, a dog becomes a household pest …
1
vote
Preposition usage: on, in, and at
"I worked on a project" is correct. In would be wrong in this context. One can work in a particular place or location (obviously), as well as a field of endeavor, a professional or academic department …
2
votes
At Night or In the Night?
Sometimes, native speakers drop the articles and prepositions where nonessential to the understanding of the intended recipient. …
23
votes
Accepted
"Need of" vs. "need for"
With "of":
have need of: This is very formal usage, though, as simply using "need" would suffice
They had need of shelter.
in need of: This is more commonly used in everyday English
I am …
40
votes
Accepted
"Studying PhD at the university" or "studying PhD in the university"?
I am studying PhD at the university.
I am studying PhD in the university.
In the above, both sentences are wrong. Inserting for a between studying and PhD would make sentence 1. correct. …
20
votes
What does 'ten of six' mean in regard to time?
In American English, using "of" when telling the time denotes the number minutes before the upcoming hour. Thus, "ten of six" would mean 5:50 p.m. As another example, "quarter of three" would be 2:45 …
3
votes
Accepted
Rules about prepositions and duplicating 'to'
While your sentence
I think we really ought to leave that up to the people we're assigning the label to to judge.
is not grammatically incorrect, it would be considered inelegant by many writers, es …