Independent

Independent = not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct, etc.; thinking or acting for oneself; not subject to another’s authority or jurisdiction; autonomous; free; not influenced by the thought or action of others; not dependent; not depending or contingent upon something else for existence, operation, etc.; not relying on another or others for aid or support.

Synonyms: absolute, autarchic, autarchical, autonomous, freewheeling, individualistic, nonaligned, nonpartisan, on one’s own, self-contained, self-determining, self-governing, self-reliant, self-ruling, self-sufficient, self-supporting, separate, separated.

Example: Mr. John is an independent businessman.

Usage in Sentence: Independent of, not from.

Don’t say: Clare is independent from her parents.

• Say: Clare is independent of her parents.

Guilty

Guilty = having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral or penal law; justly subject to a certain accusation or penalty; culpable; characterized by, connected with, or involving guilt: guilty intent; having or showing a sense of guilt.

Synonyms: accusable, censurable, culpable, chargeable, condemned, convictable, convicted, criminal, damned, delinquent, depraved, regretful, remorseful, reprehensible, responsible,.

Example – The jury found her guilty of murder.

Usage in Sentence: Guilty of, not for.

Don’t say: He was found guilty for murder.

•   Say: He was found guilty of murder.

Glad

Glad = Appreciative; providing joy and pleasure; very willing; pleased; bright and cheerful; to rejoice.

Synonyms: Pleased, joyous, happy, cheerful

Example: I’ll be glad to answer any questions you may have.

Usage in Sentence: Glad about, not with or from.

Don’t say: Francis was glad with (or from) receiving your letter.

•  Say: Francis was glad about receiving your letter.

Rid

Rid = to relieve or deliver from something disagreeable or undesirable; to relieve or free oneself of; to have removed, to remove; to free oneself from.

Synonyms: abolish, clear, deliver, disabuse, disburden, disembarrass, disencumber, dump, eject, eliminate, eradicate, expel, exterminate.

Example – He was finally able to rid himself of all financial worries.

Usage in Sentence: Get rid of, not from.

Don’t say: I’ll be glad to get rid from him.

•   Say: I’ll be glad to get rid of him.

Fail

Fail = The condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends; One that fails; the condition or fact of being insufficient or falling short; a cessation of proper functioning or performance; nonperformance of what is requested or expected; omission; the act or fact of failing to pass a course, test, or assignment; A decline in strength or effectiveness.

Synonyms: be unsuccessful, abort, backslide, be defeated, be demoted, be found lacking, be in vain, be ruined, blunder, break down, deteriorate, fall through.

Example – She failed to prove herself right.

Usage in Sentence: Fail in, not from.

Don’t say: Steven failed from maths last year.

•   Say: Steven failed in maths last year.

Dressed

Dressed = To put clothes on; clothe; To furnish with clothing; To decorate or adorn; To garnish; To arrange a display in; To arrange (troops) in ranks; align; To apply medication, bandages, or other therapeutic materials to.

Synonyms: appareled, attired, garbed, garmented, habilimented, robed.

Example: They dressed up and went to the prom.

Usage in Sentence: Dressed in, not with.

Don’t say: The woman was dressed with black.

•   Say: The woman was dressed in black.

Divide

Divide = to separate into parts, groups, sections, etc; to separate or part from something else; cut off; to deal out in parts; distribute in shares; apportion; to cleave; part; to separate in opinion or feeling.

Synonyms: split, separate, partition, segregate, break up, part.

Example: There are three simple steps to divide fractions.

Usage in Sentence: Divide into parts, not in parts.

Don’t say: I divided the cake in four parts.

Say: I divided the cake into four parts.

Different

Different = not alike in character or quality; differing; dissimilar; not identical; separate or distinct; various; several; not ordinary; unusual.

Synonyms: dissimilar, diverse, unlike, unusual.

Example: Different people told me the same story.

Usage in Sentence: Different from, not than.

Don’t say: My book is different than yours.

• Say: My book is different from yours.

Die of an illness

Die of an illness = Sickness or disease resulting in death.

Example – Astrologers say that he will die of an illness.

Usage in Sentence: Die of an illness, not from an illness.

Don’t say: Many people have died from malaria.

•  Say: Many people have died of malaria.

Depend

Depend = count on, rely upon; to rely for support, maintenance, help.

Synonyms:  bank on, bet bottom dollar on, bet on, build upon, calculate on, confide in, gamble on, lay money on, lean on, reckon on, trust in, turn to.

Example – In my discipline this would depend on the form of publication journal.

Usage in Sentence: Depend on or upon, not from.

Don’t say: It depends from her.

•   Say: It depends on (or upon) her.