Correcting Common English Errors: ‘Dispose of’ vs. ‘Dispose off’

Incorrect use of prepositions and verb tenses can often lead to grammatical mistakes in English. A common example involves the words “dispose of” and “dispose off”. This article aims to clarify the correct usage and provide insights on why one is correct and the other is not.

Which is Correct?

The question often arises when someone needs to express the act of getting rid of something, such as a car. The correct phrase to use is “He disposed of his old car.”

Why 'Dispose of' is Correct

The phrase “He disposed of his old car” is the grammatically correct version.

Here, the preposition 'of' is used to show possession and to indicate that the action of disposal is performed on the object referred to by 'his old car'. In English, when using the phrasal verb “dispose of”, the preposition 'of' is essential.

Why 'Dispose off' is Incorrect

The phrase “He disposed off his old car” is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. The preposition 'off' is not part of the standard phrasal verb “dispose of”.

Standard Phrasal Verb Usage

Phrasal verbs in English are a combination of a verb and a preposition or adverb that together have a meaning quite different from the literal meanings of the constituent parts. In the case of “dispose of”, the preposition is 'of', not 'off'. This phrasal verb is used to describe the act of getting rid of an object, a situation, or a person.

Additional Examples and Applications

To better illustrate the correct usage of “dispose of”, consider the following examples:

He had to dispose of his old laptop because it didn't work anymore. The company decided to dispose of the outdated inventory in order to make room for new products. She disposed of her old books after moving to a new place.

In each case, the use of “dispose of” with the preposition 'of' is appropriate and necessary to convey the intended meaning.

Conclusion

In summary, the correct way to express the act of getting rid of something in English is “He disposed of his old car”. The preposition 'of' is crucial in this phrasal verb to denote the object being disposed of. Using “dispose off” is an error that should be avoided in formal or professional writing.

Keywords

dispose of, dispose off, correct sentence structure