Preposition means 'pre-position', and in grammar this part of speech is intended to be placed before its object. A preposition can, however, end a sentence as follows:

1. when the spontaneity of the sentence would be lost by inverting the preposition:
   
   He is the greatest stratigrapher I have ever heard of.
   not
   He is the greatest stratigrapher of whom I have ever heard.
   
   Officials worth talking to.
   not
   Officials to whom it is worthwhile talking.
   
   That depends on what you write with.
   not
   That depends on with what you write.
   
   They split every concretion they could lay their hands on.
   not
   They split every concretion on which they could lay their hands.
   
   
   
   
2. when the preposition is part of a contrived verb. There are combinations of words that appear to end with a preposition, but in reality they are verbal forms. The verb put, for instance, can have many meanings when what seems to be a preposition, is attached to it, such as put about, put away, put back, put by, put down, put forward, put in, put off, put over, put through, put up, and put up with.
   
   Do not confuse these verb forms with the superfluous preposition added to such expressions as meet up with, visit with, and study up on, when the meaning is the same without the preposition.

Distinguish between between and among. The first refers to two persons or things; the second to more than two:

However, between is still used where the more than two items are considered severally divided, and also in cases where every relationship is a well defined two-way relationship:

With is frequently misused, especially for and:

With is incorrectly used in the sense of but and a verb in the following sentences:

With is sometimes used erroneously in place of a verb:

Do not omit the preposition in the following cases:

1. where a different preposition is required in a series:
   He had a knowledge of, and a keen interest in, geology.
   
   
2. in expressions of time:
   He was appointed on 1 October 1986.
   The earthquake occurred on Thursday, 18 June 1987.

Compound prepositions

Use the conjunction because rather than the compound preposition inasmuch as. Another compound, as to, can be left out of most sentences without changing the meaning. Avoid such hybrids as herewith, thereof, thereon, or thereunder.

Appropriate prepositions with nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs

Idiom calls for certain nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs to be followed by particular prepositions. Some of the more common are listed below:

accord with (but, of one's own accord)
account for
acquiesce in
adhere to
adverse to
agree on terms
agree to a proposal
agree with a person
aim at
alien to
averse to (not averse from)
aware of

begin by doing something
begin from a point
begin with an act
benefits of the benefactor
benefits to the beneficiary

capable of
capacity for
circumstances (in the)
compare with (to note points of resemblance and difference)
compare to (only when used in the sense 'to liken to')
concur with a person
conditions (under the)
conform to (adapt one's self to)
conform with (in harmony with)
consist in (definition: Memory consists in a present imagination of past incidents.)
consist of (material: The meal consisted of fish.)
consistent with
content one's self with
content others by
contrast (When contrast is used as a verb, it is followed by with. Either to or with may be used when the word contrast is used as a noun.)
conversant with
correspond to (resemble)
correspond with (communicate)

demand for a thing
demand a thing from, or of, a person
derive from
differ, different, from (not than, to)
differ with a person in opinion
disagree with a person

embark in a mining venture (but embark on a journey)
endowed with
evidence of (something)
evidence for (a theory)

find a fault in a person or thing
find fault with a person
free from

indifferent to
infected with disease, bad qualities
infested with insects, vermin
initiative in (to take) (on one's own initiative)
insight into
interpreted as (avoid interpreted to be as this implies cause and effect)
invest in a business

join in a project
join with some person or thing

labour at a task
labour for a person, for an end
labour in a good cause
labour under a disadvantage
look after a business
look at a thing
look for a missing article
look into a matter
look over an account

moment (on the spur of the)
moment's notice (at a)

order of (in the)

parallel with or to
perpendicular to
point at a thing
point to a fact
point with an object
prefer one to the other
prefer to do one thing rather than another
preference for
prevent from doing something
proceed to an act not previously started
proceed with an act already started
prohibit from doing something
provide against ill luck
provide for an emergency
provide one's self with something
pursuant to (in pursuance of)

range from X to Y (not range between)
ready to do something
ready with a reply
reckon with a person, a contingency
reference to (preceded by with, not in)
regard for a person (with regard to a subject)
regard for one's own interest
relief to suffering (to bring)
relieve one from a duty
responsibility for (an act or situation)
responsibility of deciding, of a position
responsibility to a person for an action
result from an event
result in a failure
result of an investigation
right of doing
right to do

satisfied of a fact
satisfied with a thing
secure against attack
secure from harm
secure in a position

tamper with
tinker at gemmology
tinker with an engine

unconscious of

variance on certain topics (at)
variance with a person (at)
versed in
view of circumstances (in)
view to a purpose (with a)

wary of a danger