U Khin Maung (A retired diplomat)

 

 

INTRODUCTION

1. No educative process is ever the end. It is always the be­ginning of more education, more learning and more liv­ing. In other words, it is a life-long process. Knowledge is power. Ignorance of law or any other thing is no excuse. So, guided by these words of wisdom, I am still learning, in spite of my old age, which is only four years away from being at age ninety. In fact, I am an oldie with a step to the grave. But, believe me, I am still learning.

 

2. In this article, I would like to, once again, make a posi­tive critical assessment, not from an academician’s point of view but from a layman’s point of view. This is my third humble and honest article in alphabetical order.

 

B. (Commencement)

 

Believe in, not to.

 

Don’t say: We believe to God.

 

Say: We believe in God.

 

Note: To believe in means to have faith in. To believe (without the in) means to regard some­thing as true: I believe everything he says.

 

Boast of or about, not for;

 

Don’t say: James boasted for his strength.

 

Say: James boasted of (or about) his strength.

 

Careful of, with or about, not for.

 

Don’t say: Elke’s very careful for her health.

 

Say: Elke’s very careful of/ about her health.

 

Or. You should be more care­ful with your money.

 

Note: Take care of it. He takes care of his money.

 

Travel by train, etc., not with the train, etc.

 

Don’t say: He travelled with the train yesterday.

 

Say: He travelled by train yesterday.

 

Note: We say by train, by boat, by plane, by bike: also, by land, by sea, by air, by bus or on a bus; by car or in a car, by taxi or in a taxi, on horse-back, on a donkey, on a bicycle; on foot

 

Complain about, not for.

 

Don’t say: Annette com­plained for the weather.

 

Say: Annette complained about the weather.

 

Note: When talking about illness, we complain. We say: She complained of a sore throat.

 

Composed of, not from.

Don’t say: Our class is com­posed from thirty students.

 

Say: Our class is composed of thirty students.

 

Confidence in, not to.

Don’t say: I have great con­fidence to you.

 

Say: I have great confidence in you.

 

Note: In confidence: Let me tell you something in confidence ( = as a secret).

 

Conform to, not with.

 

Don’t say: We must conform with the rules.

 

Say: We must conform to the rules.

 

Note: comply takes with: We’ll comply with your request.

 

Congratulate on, not for.

 

Don’t say: I congratulate you for your success.

 

Say: I congratulate you on your success.

 

Consist of, not from.

 

Don’t say: A year consists from twelve months.

 

Say: A year consists of twelve months.

 

Note: Take great care never to use consists in the passive form.

 

Covered with, not by.

 

Don’t say: The Mountains are covered by snow.

 

Say: The Mountains are cov­ered with/in snow.

 

Cure of, not from.

 

Don’t say: The man was cured from his illness.

 

Say: The man was cured of his illness.

 

Note: The noun cure takes for: There is no cure for that disease.

 

Depend on or upon, not from.

 

Don’t say: It depends from her.

 

Say: It depends on (or upon) her.

 

Note: Rely on or upon: I can’t rely on (or upon) him.

 

Deprive of, not from.

 

Don’t say: Nelson Mandela was deprived from his freedom.

 

Say: Nelson Mandela was deprived of his freedom.

 

Die of an illness, not from an illness.

 

Don’t say: Many people have died from malaria.

 

Say: Many people have died of malaria.

 

Note: people die of illness, of hunger, of thirst, of or from wounds; from overwork; by vi­olence, by the sword, by pesti­lence; in battle, for their country, for a cause; through neglect; on the scaffold; at the stake.

 

Different from, not than.

 

Don’t say: My book is differ­ent than yours.

 

Say: My book is different from yours.

 

Reference:

(1) A book of essential quota­tions.

(2) Common mistakes in Eng­lish (new edition)

By T J FITIKIDES. (BA E LI)