Unnecessary Prepositions
One of the most common preposition mistakes is
adding an unnecessary at to the end of a question.
Incorrect: Where is
your brother at?
Although this is common in some English dialects,
it’s considered an error in writing. You can fix the problem by simply deleting
the at.
Correct: Where is
your brother?
On the bright side, if you’re not sure which
preposition to use, sometimes you can just get rid of it altogether. In fact,
you should always get rid of unnecessary prepositional phrases. Too many
prepositions can be a sign of flabby writing. Look at how many prepositions
appear in the sentence below:
Example: For many people, the reality of an entry into a
new area of employment is
cause for a host of anxieties.
Getting rid of the prepositions forces you to
tighten up the sentence. The result is shorter, more direct, and easier to
understand:
Example: Changing careers makes many people anxious.
