Dispose vs. Dispose Of: Grammar Police Protect an IKEA Bathroom

On Instagram, grammar hound @jenni_bea shared a goof she apparently spied inside the ladies' room at IKEA.

@snarkygrammar Someone corrected it!

 

Look carefully and you'll see that, lo and behold, it's true. Some grammatically savvy gal after my own heart has inserted the word 'of' after 'dispose.'

Where does this IKEA notice go wrong? It fails to use the correct idiom. An idiom is a group of words with a meaning not deducible from the meanings of the individual words. In other words, you can't figure out the meaning of an idiom by dissecting its parts.

The idiom in question is dispose of. It is a phrasal verb, also known as a two-word verb. The second word is a preposition, and that preposition changes the meaning of the verb.

Definitions:

• dispose (v.) - (a) to arrange in order; (b) to lean toward or incline (typically used as a past participle). The general is getting ready to dispose the troops. I am disposed to root for my school's team.
• dispose of (phrasal v.) - (a) to throw away or discard; (b) to settle or attend to. As soon as the final exam is over, I'm going to dispose of my math binder. The union leader disposed of the controversy. 

 

Correction:

•  Please use the bin provided to dispose of sanitary towels.

If you spy a real-world grammar goof, please share it with me.

In to vs. Into: Fun with Phrasal Verbs

This one made me laugh. Brian writes:

Hey Snarky. I was out sick for a few days and so my teacher and I e-mailed back and forth about some assignments.

Me: I'm pretty sure I already turned that paper into you.
Her: So now there are two of me? Ha ha!

What the heck is she talking about?  

Your teacher, a grammar geek after my own heart, has made a joke about phrasal verbs.

Where did your e-mail go wrong? You used the wrong preposition with an idiom. An idiom is a phrase whose definition can't be derived from the meanings of the words it contains.

What you wrote: I'm pretty sure I already turned that paper into you.
What you should have written: I'm pretty sure I already turned that paper in to you.

Quick rules:

• When a  preposition is an integral part of a phrasal verb, also known as a two-word verb, then don't consider it a preposition; consider it part of the verb. Keep phrasal verbs intact.

The phrasal verb 'to turn in' means to submit. In is part of the verb 'turn in'  and to is the preposition. Turn your paper in to your teacher. Even better: Turn in your paper to your teacher. With that wording, the phrasal verb is kept together.

On the other hand, this is incorrect: Turn your paper into your teacher. Abracadabra! Your paper is now your teacher. Why? Because 'to turn into' is another phrasal verb meaning to transform, as if by magic.

Your teacher made a joke. Laugh and learn.

In to vs. Into, On to vs. Onto: All About the Verb

Carla writes:

Hi Snarky! Would you please run through when to use in to and when to use into? I also mix up on to and onto. Thank you!

Sure thing, Carla. This question tends to crop up only when we're writing, since both options sound identical in spoken English. Sometimes it's about the preposition. But more often, it's about the verb.

Quick rules:

• There should generally be only one preposition per phrase. 
• Use the prepositions into and onto to indicate movement from one place to another. I stepped into the room. He stepped onto the podium. She jumped into the pool. I tossed my book onto the desk.
• You can often use into and onto interchangeably with in and on, which are also prepositions. She jumped in the pool. I tossed my book on the desk. In both sentences, the sense of movement is obvious through context.
• If the preposition is an integral part of a phrasal verb, also known as a two-word verb*, then don't consider it a preposition; consider it part of the verb. Keep phrasal verbs intact.
  
  
  
  1. Correct: The robbers will break in to the bank at 6pm. The phrasal verb is 'break in,' meaning to enter without permission. In is part of the verb and the preposition is to.
     Incorrect: The robbers will break into the bank at 6pm. The phrasal verb has been corrupted.
  2. Correct: I'll look into this matter before the end of the day. The phrasal verb 'to look into' means to investigate.
     Incorrect: I'll look in to this matter before the end of the day. The back-to-back prepositions in this phrase signals the error.
  3. Correct: Turn your paper in to your teacher. The phrasal verb 'to turn in' means to submit. In is part of the verb and to is the preposition.
     Even better: Turn in your paper to your teacher. The phrasal verb is kept together.
     Incorrect: Turn your paper into your teacher. Shazam! Your paper is now your teacher. 'To turn into' is another phrasal verb meaning to transform. D'oh, that's not what you meant.
  4. Correct: I am really into alternative music. The phrasal verb 'to be into' means to be passionate about.
     Incorrrect: I am really in to alternative music. The double preposition is the clue that there is an error.

Compare To vs. Compare With: Can you Liken It?

Sam asked whether there was any difference between compare to and compare with, citing a headine in The Inquistr:

Lady Gaga Compared to Michael Jackson

Thanks, Sam. Compare to and compare with are phrasal verbs, also known as two-word verbs. The second word is usually a preposition, and that preposition can change the meaning of the verb.

Phrasal verbs are also idioms, which are expressions whose meanings are different than the  dictionary definitions of their words. In other words, they are expressions that can't be broken down and dissected. Phrasal verbs and idioms are a veritable nightmare for people learning English as a second language. They can trip up native speakers, too.

The vast majority of people use compare to and compare with interchangeably, yet there is a difference. 

Quick rules:

• Use compare to when implying or pointing out similarities. In Sam's example, the article describes how Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson are alike, so the headline correctly uses compared to. Lady Gaga Compared to Michael Jackson. Also: He is always comparing his math teacher to a drill sergeant. The current economy is sometimes compared to a sleeping bear.
• Use compare with when your aim is to illustrate differences. Compared with his old bricklaying job, Jim's new bartending gig is a piece of cake. This year's algebra class is very hard compared with last year's math class.

Try this: 

• If you can substitute 'liken to,' then use 'compare to.' He is always likening his math teacher to a drill sergeant. The current economy is sometimes likened to a sleeping bear. On the other hand, consider This year's algebra class is very hard when likened to last year's math class. You wouldn't use the word 'liken' here because you are pointing out a difference between the classes.

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