Verbs with Prepositions
Some verbs, like 'to face up to', have unnecessary prepositions (highlighted in
the examples below). For more succinct sentences, omit the prepositions.
Examples:
 I cannot face up to this problem.
 / I cannot face this problem.
(Both are grammatically correct, but the second version is more succinct. The
prepositions "up to" do not add anything.)
Try this new garlic dip
out. / Try this new garlic dip.
Heat the soup up.
/ Heat the soup.
Give up the chase.
/ Give the chase.
(Often, the preposition is required. These two versions have different meanings.)
She will not stand
for shoddy work.
/ She will not stand shoddy work.
Where are you going
to? / Where are you going?
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CHOOSE A BETTER VERB IN FORMAL WRITING
Sometimes the prepositions are essential to ensure the correct meaning (e.g.,
'give up' and 'give' are completely different.)
Verbs comprising more than one word (e.g., to get away, to look after, to put
off) are known as phrasal verbs. These are usually used in informal
circumstances, such as speaking or writing notes or emails. The single-word
versions (usually deriving from Latin) are more appropriate in formal writing.
Examples:
 We will get
together at 6.
We will
congregate at 1800 hrs.
(to congregate: Latinate version of 'to get together')
We've put
the meeting off until Tue.
The meeting
is postponed until Tuesday.
(to postpone: Latinate version of 'to put off')
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Common grammar errors
