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CHAPTER XII

 Prepositions

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.”
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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.
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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.