both
When both is used with two singular nouns joined by and, you should not use the word of:
Right:
- Both Marguerite and Mrs. Cullinan were wrong.
Wrong:
- Both of Marguerite and Mrs. Cullinan...
You can use of when both is followed by a plural noun, but it is not necessary.
Right:
Right:
In some cases, there might be a subtle difference in emphasis between these two sentences.
discriminate against and discrimination
When the verbdiscriminate means "to treat someone unfairly", it is used with the preposition against. You can't omit against Against is also used with the noun discrimination and with the passive form of the verb.
- Correct:
- This company discriminates against women.
- Our group is fighting discrimination against women.
- Women have been discriminated against for a long time.
- Incorrect (because against has been left out:
- This company discriminates women.
- There is a serious problem of discrimination for women.
- Women have been discriminated for a long time.
discuss
Discuss is a transitive verb. It should not be followed by the preposition about. The meaning of discuss is similar to the verb+preposition talk about.
- Right:
- We discussed her new idea.
- We talked about her new idea.
- Wrong:
- We discussed about her new idea.
one of
The phrase one of is always used with a plural noun. The noun is always preceded by a determiner of some kind.- Correct:
- one of my friends; one of the schools
- Incorrect (because the noun is not plural):
- one of my friend; one of the school
- Incorrect (because there is no determiner):
- one of friends
- one of schools
This kind of mistake is very common, but you should be able to catch it if you proofread carefully.
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