Is that prepositional phrase really necessary?
A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and a noun (the object of the preposition), which sometimes has one or more modifiers. Example: at the red schoolhouse….behind the old oak tree. A prepositional phrase is always used as a modifier itself–that is, it is used in place of an adjective or an adverb. Now the kinds of phrases that I hope you will purge are adjectival prepositional phrases; and this will all become clear in a minute. Adverbial prepositional phrases (ones that tell when, where or how something happened) are very useful: without thought…at the grocery store…on target…among many others…behind schedule…along a line, etc. But adjectival prepositional phrases tend to produce clumsy construction and add unnecessary words. Such phrases are usually best replaced with a simple modifier. Take this atrocious sentence, for example: The researchers are of the opinion that this test produces biased results a great number of times owing to the fact that subjects e
