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English Bites!

engbites1English Bites! are practical, bite-sized tips to help you improve your English for work. Published twice a week, the articles include useful advice covering different aspects of business English including grammar, vocabulary, writing, speaking as well as fun topics. It'll take just a few minutes to read each tip. You can subscribe to English Bites! from the Newsletters link above. After that, you'll receive notifications of all new tips by email.

Problems with Prepositions

prepositionsRule 1

You may end a sentence with a preposition. Just do not use extra prepositions when the meaning is clear without them.

That is something I cannot agree with.

How many of you can I count on?

Where did he go (to)?

Where did you get this (at)?

I will go later (on).

Take your shoes off (of) the bed.

You may not look out (of) the window.

Cut it (up) into small pieces.

(the prepositions in brackets can be omitted)

Rule 2

Use on with expressions that indicate the time of an occurrence.

He was born on 23 December.

We will arrive on the fourth.

Rule 3

0f should never be used in place of have.

CORRECT

I should have done it.

INCORRECT

I should of done it.

Rule 4

Between refers to two. Among is used for three or more.

Divide the money between the two of you.

Divide the money among the three of you.

Rule 5

Into implies entrance, in does not.

Sally walked into the office.

Sally was waiting in the office.

Cut the cake into six slices. (The knife enters the cake.)
 

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Business Grammar: Noun + Preposition Combinations

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Analysis of Business Writing 3

Questions to Dr English 2

Guidelines for Using the Hyphen (-)

Questions to the Editor 4

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Simplified English Jokes!

How to Fix Run-on Sentences

How to Fix Incomplete Sentences

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