Choosing the Right Preposition

1
Choosing the Right Preposition

• The differences between commonly used
  prepositions.

2
Beside/Besides

• Use beside as a preposition to mean by the side
  of or not connected with something.

Darrell usually sits beside me during management
staff meetings.

• Use besides as a preposition to mean in addition
  to or other than.

Besides Sherry, the manager promoted Joyce and
Bob.
3
Among/Between

• Use between to refer to two persons, places,
  activities, ideas, things, or qualities.

Our manager distributed the work between the two
programmers.

• Use among to refer to more than two persons,
  places, activities, ideas, things, or qualities.

I was among those who voted for Andy as the team
leader.
4
Off/From

• Do not use off of in prepositional phrases.

Roger was positive that Edward took the
production results off his desk. (Do not use off
of his desk.)

• Do not substitute off for from in certain
  phrases.

Lorraine borrowed paper from Erica during the
meeting. (Do not use off Erica as the
prepositional phrase.)
5
In/Into

• Use in to indicate a location or position within
  a place.

Please place your self-evaluation form in my
mailbox.

• Use into to indicate movement or direction from
  outside to inside or a change of condition or
  form.

Please step into my office to discuss your
concerns. We divided the report into three
sections.
6
To/Too/Two

• Use the preposition to to indicate toward.

Please e-mail this message to all the other
managers.

• Use to as an infinitive or as a part of an
  infinitive phrase.

She plans to promote Gale next month.

• Use too as an adverb to indicate an excessive
  amount or also.

The president made the hiring decision too
quickly. Our company is moving to Minneapolis
too.
7
To/Too/Two

• Use two to indicate the number.

We have two outstanding candidates for the R.B.
Rutledge Leadership Award this year. The
selection committee chose two candidates for the
president to interview.
8
Agree in/ Agree on/ Agree with
Oscar agreed in principle with the plan for the
new building. The staff agreed on the need to
lengthen our customer service hours. The managers
agreed with the employees about replacing the
copy machine.
9
Angry at/ Angry about/ Angry with
Bill is angry about our antiquated e-mail
system. My manager was angry with Lucy for not
regulating Internet usage in her department.
10
Argue about/ Argue for/ Argue with
Several employees argued about the evaluation
system. Our manager argued for decision-making
software. Sometimes I argue with Richard.
11
Arrive at/ Arrive by
She will arrive at 6 p.m. They plan to arrive by
train. Peggy plans to arrive in St. Louis by
Monday.
12
Talk to/ Talk with
Have you talked to your coworkers about your
concerns? Loretta and I talked with our manager
about job sharing.