and no one bellow the degree of a metaphysician can pretend to decide between them.
- A scholar endowed by [with] an ample knowledge and persuasive eloquence to cite and instance.—MEREDTH.
- I say to you plainly there is no end to [at] which your practical faculty can aim ...—EMERSON.
- He urged that it was an undesirable thing to be always tinkering with this particular trade.—Times.
We tamper with, but tinker at, the thing that is to be operated on.
- You may hunt the alien from his overcrowded tenement, you may forbid him, if you like, from toiling ten hours a day for wage of a few shillings.—Times.
His toiling, or him to toil.
- His readiness, not only at catching a point, but at making the most of it on a moment's notice, was amazing.—BRYCE
On the spur of the moment, but at a moment's notice. The motive was, no doubt, to avoid repeating at; but such devices are sins if they are detected.
- Nataly had her sense of safety in acquiescing to such a voice.—MEREDITH.
We acquiesce in, not to, though either phrase in awkward enough with a voice; to is probably accounted for again by the desire to avoid repeating in.
3. After nouns.
- There can be no fault found to her manners or sentiments.—SCOTT.
I find fault with; I find a fault in. Write in or with, as one or the other phrase in meant.
- The diet should leaved to the Tsar the initiative of talking such measure as may be necessary.—Times.
- M. Delcasse took the initiative of turning the conversion to Moroccan affairs.—Times.
We assume the right of turning, we take the initiative in turning. ...