Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 56

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• Natasha is married with a rich banker.  (wrong)
• Natasha is married to a rich banker. (correct)
• Explanation : A person is married to another person; it is a fixed collocation.
• I have been searching my pen since morning.   (wrong)
• I have been searching for my pen since morning. (correct)
• Explanation : Without the preposition 'for', 'to search' will mean 'to look into', 'to examine'. 
  
• For example, 'The customs officer searched his suitcases', 'The police inspector searched his house'.
• I don't wish any compensation.  (wrong)
• I don't wish for any compensation. (correct)
• Explanation : One always wishes for something.
• Who will buy this car for such a price ?  (wrong)
• Who will buy this car at such a price ? (correct)
• Explanation : Use 'for' only where a specific amount is mentioned. e.g., 'He sold his horse for Rs. 500'.
• I shall return this book after a week.  (wrong)
• I shall return this book in a week (Or, in a week's time). (correct)
• Explanation : In this sense 'in' means 'at the end of'.
• He took out his shoes before entering the mosque.  (wrong)
• He took off his shoes before entering the mosque.  (correct)
• Explanation : To take something out means 'to destroy, or disable something', whereas to take something off means 'to remove from one's body'. These plural verbs have other meanings as well.
• The train is running in time.  (wrong)
• The train is running on time. (correct)
• Explanation : 'On time' means 'punctual' whereas in time means 'eventually' or 'not late'. 
• He has lost the match from his rival.  (wrong)
• He has lost the match to his rival. (correct)
• Explanation : One always loses something to someone. 
• Where have you been to ?  (wrong)
• Where have you been ? (correct)
• Explanation : The question is about one's location and not movement which 'to' suggests.
• Open the seventh page of this book.  (wrong)
• Open this book at page seven. (correct)
• Explanation : 'At' suggests the exact location rather than space which 'open' suggests. 
• Kiran, as well as Kamal, are leaving for England.   (wrong)
• Kiran, as well as Kamal, is leaving for England. (correct)
• Explanation : When to singular nouns are linked by 'as well as', they take a singular verb.