Prepositions may be small words—in, on, at, by, with, to—but they can cause big confusion. Even fluent English speakers stumble over them. Why? Because prepositions don’t always translate directly from one language to another, and their usage often depends on context rather than hard rules.
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I on the bus or in the bus?” or “Do I arrive at Monday or on Monday?”—you’re not alone. Preposition errors are among the most common grammar mistakes learners (and even professionals!) make.
In this blog, we’ll explore the most frequent preposition mistakes in English, why they happen, and how to fix them—with examples you can actually remember.
Why Prepositions Are Tricky
Prepositions are words that show relationships between nouns, pronouns, and other words in a sentence. They’re everywhere:
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“She is at the park.”
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“I’m interested in music.”
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“They arrived on time.”
The problem? Prepositions often don’t follow logic. Native speakers “feel” which one is correct, while learners rely on literal translation from their mother tongue. That’s when mistakes creep in.
But don’t worry—we’ll break down the top 10 preposition errors and how to fix them so you can sound more confident in English.
1. Incorrect: Discuss about
Wrong: We need to discuss about the plan.
Right: We need to discuss the plan.
The word “discuss” already includes the idea of “about.” Adding “about” is unnecessary. Just say discuss something.
2. Incorrect: Married with
Wrong: She is married with a doctor.
Right: She is married to a doctor.
The correct preposition is married to, not “with.” You can say She has two kids with her husband, but when talking about marriage, use to.
3. Incorrect: Enter into
Wrong: They entered into the room.
Right: They entered the room.
“Enter” doesn’t need a preposition. Just say enter the building, enter the room, enter the hall.
4. Incorrect: Return back
Wrong: He returned back to his village.
Right: He returned to his village.
“Return” already means “come back.” Using both is redundant.
5. Incorrect: Complain against
Wrong: She complained against the noise.
Right: She complained about the noise.
When you’re upset, you complain about something. Use against only if it’s a legal complaint against a person or authority.
6. Incorrect: Different than
Wrong: My style is different than yours.
Right: My style is different from yours.
The standard expression is different from. In American English, “different than” sometimes appears, but “different from” is universally accepted.
7. Incorrect: Prefer than
Wrong: I prefer coffee than tea.
Right: I prefer coffee to tea.
Prefer always takes “to,” not “than.” Easy to remember: prefer A to B.
8. Incorrect: Call to
Wrong: I will call to her tomorrow.
Right: I will call her tomorrow.
The verb “call” doesn’t need a preposition. Just say call someone.
9. Incorrect: Arrive to
Wrong: They arrived to the station late.
Right: They arrived at the station late.
Use arrive at for specific places (at the airport, at the station) and arrive in for cities/countries (arrive in London, arrive in India).
10. Incorrect: Order for
Wrong: He ordered for a pizza.
Right: He ordered a pizza.
Like “discuss” and “call,” the verb “order” doesn’t need a preposition. Just say order something.
Quick Fix Chart: Correct Preposition Use
| Wrong | Right |
|---|---|
| Discuss about | Discuss |
| Married with | Married to |
| Enter into | Enter |
| Return back | Return |
| Complain against | Complain about |
| Different than | Different from |
| Prefer than | Prefer to |
| Call to | Call |
| Arrive to | Arrive at/in |
| Order for | Order |
Tips to Avoid Preposition Mistakes
1. Learn phrases, not single words.
Instead of memorizing “arrive,” learn it as arrive at the station / arrive in London.
2. Think in English, not translation.
Many preposition mistakes happen when we directly translate from our native language.
3. Read and listen more.
Notice how prepositions are used in books, movies, and conversations.
4. Practice with examples.
Write five sentences daily using the correct preposition forms.
5. Keep a personal error list.
Note down the mistakes you often make and revise them regularly.
Why Prepositions Matter
You may wonder—does it really matter if I say “married with” instead of “married to”? Yes, it does. Preposition errors can:
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Make you sound less fluent.
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Change the meaning of a sentence.
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Confuse the listener.
Correct usage helps you communicate clearly, sound professional, and build confidence in English.
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