Tempting Errors and the Right Path

Today’s English
May 23rd, 2017

When we are fond of certain words, we are likely to get tempted and go astray in our speech and writing. A Little awareness and clarification will put us on the right track again. Here are few examples:

1.Incorrect: I was sitting on the armchair. Students were sitting on the dual desk.
Correct: I was sitting in the armchair.  Students were sitting at the dual desk.

(the sitting object  before you. = at;   beneath you= on;  around you covering you = in.  You sit at desk, on chair, on stool, on the table, on the floor, on the bike  but in a car, in a bus, in an office, in a place, in an armchair, in a room)

2.Incorrect: Her sari is made from silk.
Correct : Her sari is made of silk.
3.Incorrect: This juice is made of regional fruits.
Correct: This juice is made from regional fruits.
( in making something, if the source remains as it is after the process, use “made of", if the original form disappears, use “ made from”, if the place is involved,” made in”, if a person, “made by or made for".  This pen is made in Japan. This car is made by Chinese engineers. This dress is made for celebrities. They are made for each other. The chair is made of wood. The flour is made from wheat.)

4.Incorrect: He didn’t enter my personal affairs.
Correct: He didn’t enter into my personal affairs.
(If a place is involved, use “enter".  In other cases, use “enter into".  He entered her room.  He entered into the minute details of the project.)

5.Incorrect: This dictionary will be useful for my son.
Correct: This dictionary will be useful to my son.
(Don’t forget: useful to somebody but useful for doing something. This book is useful to her. This book is useful for preparing any competitive exam.)

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”
-Mahatma Gandhi