Concept 5

Use idiomatic word/phrase choices and standard preposition usage.

Core Idea

Some expressions are correct because standard English pairs them with a specific preposition or phrasing.

Understanding

Rule: These questions are usually local. The sentence tells you what relationship the phrase needs to express, but only one pairing is standard in edited prose.

  • Read the verb and preposition, or the adjective and preposition, as one unit. If one part changes, the whole phrase can become nonstandard even when the idea still feels understandable.

Step by Step

  1. Read the phrase as a chunk instead of judging the preposition by itself.
  2. Test which pairing is standard in formal written English.
  3. Reject choices that sound close enough in conversation but create a nonstandard phrase.

Misconceptions

  • Choosing a preposition only by loose meaning instead of by the standard phrase.
  • Assuming any near-synonymous preposition will work in edited prose.
Question

Worked Example

Which choice best completes the sentence?

"The principal credited the student editors _____ catching the caption error before publication."

Select an answer to see the explanation