A preposition is used to define the relationship between two or more nouns, noun phrases, or verbs in a sentence. Many prepositions are monosyllabic words such as off, on, in, up, and down. Others are compounds originating from two separate words—for example outside, upon, throughout, and underneath. Others are multiple separate words (e.g., with regard to, in front of), and still others are participles (e.g. during, regarding, assuming).
1. Preposition or adverb? Many prepositions may also function as adverbs. To identify a preposition, look for a prepositional object. If there is no object, it’s likely an adverb (e.g., around in Birds fly around).
2. Preposition overuse: Lean writing should use as few propositions as possible. One per sentence is usually enough. Sentences with two prepositions can sometimes be reworded—for example:
As he was giving the book to me, he seemed reluctant to hand it over.
This could be reworded as,
As he was giving me the book, he seemed reluctant to hand it over.
Other prepositional phrases can be replaced with adverbs:
The doctor entered in a hurry.
The doctor entered hurriedly.
Some can be eliminated with possessive nouns:
I was confused by the plot of the movie.
I was confused by the movie’s plot.
Some can be eliminated by changing the sentence from passive to active voice:
The cat was brought to the shelter by an old man.
An old man brought the cat to the shelter.
And some prepositional phrases can be completely removed, especially when surrounding text provides the necessary information:
I just finished Pride and Prejudice. The ending was my favorite part of the book.
I just finished Pride and Prejudice. The ending was my favorite part.
Full list of prepositions
These are all of the prepositions used in English:
- aboard
- about
- above
- according to
- across
- after
- against
- ahead of
- along
- alongside
- amid
- amidst
- among
- amongst
- around
- as
- as far as
- as of
- as per
- as regards
- as well as
- aside
- aside from
- astride
- at
- athwart
- atop
- barring
- because of
- before
- behind
- below
- beneath
- beside
- besides
- between
- beyond
- but
- by
- by means of
- circa
- close to
- concerning
- despite
- down
- due to
- during
- except
- except for
- excluding
- failing
- far from
- following
- for
- from
- given
- in
- in accordance with
- in addition to
- in case of
- in front of
- in lieu of
- in place of
- in point of
- in spite of
- including
- inside
- inside of
- instead of
- into
- like
- mid
- minus
- near
- next
- next to
- notwithstanding of
- off
- on
- on account of
- on behalf of
- on top of
- onto
- opposite
- out
- out from
- out of
- outside
- outside of
- over
- owing to
- pace
- past
- per
- plus
- prior to
- pursuant to
- qua
- regarding
- regardless of
- round
- sans
- save
- since
- subsequent to
- than
- thanks to
- that of
- through
- throughout
- till
- times
- to
- toward
- towards
- under
- underneath
- unlike
- until
- unto
- up
- upon
- versus
- via
- with
- with regard to
- with respect to
- within
- without
- worth
