Prepositional Phrases

Just as you may be unaware of your reliance on noun strings, you may not notice long runs of prepositional phrases in your writing. While prepositions are useful for breaking up lengthy noun strings, they create problems for readers when overused. The following diagram illustrates the pattern for prepositional phrases.


Some Pointers
  1. Avoid idioms that contain prepositions (e.g., goes on = further).

  2. Change noun forms to verb forms (e.g., analysis of = analysing).

  3. Make short noun strings (two to three nouns).

  4. Break long sentences into shorter ones.

  5. Two ofs in a row is awkward; three or more is nearly impossible to understand.


Start Exercise

As you read the original version below, note where you begin to lose track.


Hint
1. Original:

More detailed analysis, using Cepstrum technique, is applied based on computation of the power spectrum of the logarithm of the power spectrum of the vibration data obtained from the accelerometer on the truck frame in different positions.

1.Hinted:

More detailed analysis, using Cepstrum technique, is applied based on computation of the power spectrum of the logarithm of the power spectrum of the vibration data obtained from the accelerometer on the truck frame in different positions..

1. Revised:

Explanation

When faced with more than three consecutive prepositional phrases, readers are likely to become confused. Given eight prepositional phrases in a row, even readers with some knowledge of the experiment will not easily comprehend how the phrases connect. The problem in this example is further exaggerated by a string of four prepositional phrases beginning with of. In the case of this particular preposition, two consecutive of phrases are awkward and three are confusing.


The following example offers a more straightforward demonstration of how to use verbs to reduce the number of prepositional phrases.


Hint
2. Original:

Another component needed for the completion of the project is the reassignment of project team members to the next project and the rewarding of team members for their role in the project.

2. Hinted:

Another component needed for the completion of the project is the reassignment of project team members to the next project and the rewarding of team members for their role in the project.

2. Revised:

Explanation

Note how nouns in the original become verbs in the revision.


In the following example, we also change a noun (a lack) into a verb form (lacking or lack):

Hint
3. Original:

One example of the effects of such a lack of effective strategies, project orientation, and interdepartmental cooperation is our low morale.

3. Hinted:

One example of the effects of such a lack of effective strategies, project orientation, and interdepartmental cooperation is our low morale.

3. Revised:

Explanation

In the first revision, we remove the first of phrase by turning one example of into for example. We then changed effects to one result to maintain the sense of one example and to avoid the awkward repetition of effects ... effective. We could stop here, having solved the problem of consecutive of phrases, but the verb (is) remains near the end of the sentence. By creating a dependent clause (because we lack... ), we add a verb near the beginning of the sentence and emphasize the new information (morale is low) at the end.


To review, when confronted with long or awkward strings of prepositional phrases, search for nominalizations and replace them with verb forms, break the sentence in two, or move a phrase to the beginning to serve as an introduction. But as the first example with eight consecutive prepositional phrases demonstrates, sometimes more major revision is required. To a large extent, learning how to revise effectively and efficiently is a matter of practice. The more you revise, the easier revising becomes.