Saving our Prepositions

Book excerpt: Prepositions (words like above, from, in, of and with which relate one part of a sentence to another) are, though few in number, among the most frequently used words in English. They are also among the most frequently misused: writers and speakers alike seem to have endless trouble in choosing the right or acceptable preposition. The sad result is widespread uncertainty, confusion and misunderstanding. Addressed to both native speakers and to learners of English as a second language, Saving our Prepositions: A Guide for the Perplexed offers many examples of standard and non-standard practice with the aim of helping its readers avoid slipping up on what have been called "the banana peels of modern speech." Informative as well as entertaining, this timely guide will be of interest and value to all who cherish the English language and want to use it clearly and effectively.