Comments page: Standard English "of" survey

Of each pair of sentences, choose one, if you can, which sounds better to you. Place the number of that sentence in the blank below each pair. Feel free to add comments, including if both sentences or neither sound good to you.


1a. These are Jane's children.
1b. These are the children of Jane.

2a. John is of Toronto.
2b. John is from Toronto.

3a. If it is of God, you will not be able to stop these men.
3b. If it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men.

4a. This was written of Plato.
4b. This was written about Plato.
5a. We will have confidence on the day of judgment.
5b. We will have confidence on the judgment day.
5c. The two sentences sound equally good to me.
6a. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?
6b. Did John's right to baptize come from heaven or from humans?
7a. He who is of God hears what God says.
7b. He who belongs to God hears what God says.

8a. It is written of me in the scroll.
8b. It is written about me in the scroll.
9a. These are the true words of God.
9b. These are the true words that God has said.

10a. This is the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.
10b. This is the beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ.
11a. This is not the result of works, so that no one may boast.
11b. This did not result from human efforts, so that no one may boast.
12a. In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zachariah.
12b. When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zachariah.
13a. You neglect justice and the love of God.
13b. You neglect justice and love for God.
14a. Get away from me, all you workers of unrighteousness!
14b. Get away from me, all you evildoers!

15. Optional: What is your name?

16. Optional: What is your email address?




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latest webpage revision, Sept. 16, 2002