Writing Book 4 · Lesson 29

Prepositional phrases — bring the words back

Some meanings live in a group of words, not in any one of them.

The words

in relation to
compared with
on the basis of
using
with regard to
about
in the case of
for
in contrast to
unlike
for the purpose of
in order to

Watch how it is built

1in relation to means about the same as compared with.
In relation to the oak, the fern is small.
2on the basis of means about the same as using.
We chose on the basis of size.
3with regard to means about the same as about.
With regard to water, plants differ.

Two ways to say it

✗ In relation to the oak, the fern is small. — this is not wrong, but it is everyday talk.

✓ In relation to the oak, the fern is small. — this is how a writer says it.

Ask yourself: “Does the meaning survive if I change one word?”

Remember

The little words carry the relation.

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