In respect of, To

“In respect of this matter, he is at fault.”  Better, “to this matter.”

Of, From

“He was acquitted from the charge of larceny.”  Acquitted of the charge.

In, Into

Into implies direction or motion.  “They walked into the church,” means that they entered it from the outside.  “They walked in the church,” means that they walked back and forth within the church.
  ________________________________________________
_________________

177

“The vessel is in port.”  “She came into port yesterday.”

Of, In

“There was no use of asking his permission, for he would not grant it.”  In asking.

In, On

“He is a person in whom you can rely.”  “That is a man in whose statements you can depend.”  Use on for in.

To, With

Two persons are reconciled to each other; two doctrines or measures are reconciled with each other when they are made to agree.

“This noun is in apposition to that.”  Use with.

With, By

These two prepositions are often confounded.  They have a similarity of signification with a difference of use.  Both imply a connection between some instrument or means and the agent by whom it is used.  With signifies the closer relation and by the more remote one.

It is said that an ancient king of Scotland once asked his nobles by what tenure they held their lands.  The chiefs drew their swords, saying, “By these we acquired our lands, and with these we will defend them.”

By often relates to the person; with to the instrument.
____________________________________________________________

_____

178

“He lay on the ground half concealed with a clump of bushes.”  “That speech was characterized with eloquence.”  Use by in the last two sentences.

With, To

We correspond with a person when we exchange letters.  In speaking of the adaptation of one object to another, the preposition to should be used after the verb correspond; as, “This picture corresponds to that.”  With is often incorrectly used in such cases instead of to.

Position

The old grammarian gave a very good rule when he said, “A preposition is a very bad word to end a sentence with;” but it is sometimes easier to follow his example than his precept.  In general, the strength of a sentence is improved by not placing small particles at the end.

“Which house do you live in?” Better, “In which house do you live?”

“Avarice is a vice which most men are guilty of.”  Say, “of which most men are guilty.”

“He is a man that you should be acquainted with.”  Say, “with whom you should be acquainted.”

“Is this the man that you spoke of?” Better, “of whom you spoke.”

“These are principles that our forefathers died for.”  Rather, “for which our forefathers died.”
  _________________________________________________________________