ARTICLES, PREPOSITIONS FOR RESERACH WRITING IN NURSING.pdf

ARTICLES, PREPOSITIONS FOR RESERACH WRITING IN NURSING

1. ARTICLES,
PREPOSITIONS
Mamta Chhabriya

2. Article Type Example
a Indefinite a case study, a clinical trial
an Indefinite an intervention, an MRI scan
the Definite the patient, the data, the nursing
theory
TYPES OF ARTICLES

3. RULES
●Use “a” before consonant sounds.

●Use “an” before vowel sounds (not
necessarily vowel letters).
●
●Use “the” when referring to a specific,
known, or previously mentioned noun.

●Common before instruments, theories,
datasets, and populations in academic texts.

4. EXAMPLES
●A hypothesis was proposed.
●An ethical approval was obtained.
●A nurse conducted an evaluation.
●The data were collected over two months.
●The study focused on patients with COPD.
●The theory of planned behavior was applied.
●“The WHO guidelines…” (specific
organization)
●“The evidence suggests…” (specific body of
evidence)

5. PREPOSITIONS

6. PREPOSITIONS
A preposition is a word used before a noun or
pronoun to show its relationship with another word in the
sentence (place, time, direction, cause, method, etc.).
Common Prepositions in Research Writing:
●Time/Duration: during, after, since, before

●Place/Position: in, on, at, among

●Method/Means: by, through, via

●Cause/Reason: because of, due to, owing to
Misusing
prepositions can
lead to ambiguity,
improper logic,
or
unprofessional
tone in formal
writing.

7. PrepositionUsage Example Rule
Since Refers to a point in
time until now
Data have been collected since
January.
Use in Present
Perfect / Present
Perfect Continuous
From Refers to starting
point (past or future)
The study ran from Jan to June.Often paired with
“to” or “until”
“Since” vs. “From” – Time Reference in Research

8. ?????? Common Mistake:
❌ “Since two months”
✅ “For two months” or “Since July”
Practice:
Choose the correct word:
"The patient has been recovering ___ Monday."
✅ Since (point in time)
“Since” vs. “From” – Time Reference in Research

9. PrepositionUsage Example Rule
In Static position The sample was placed in the
freezer.
Use when there is
no movement
Into Movement toward
inside
The medication was injected
into the muscle.
Use when there's
movement from
outside to inside
“In” vs. “Into” – Static vs. Movement

10. ?????? Think:
✅ “The nurse walked into the room.”
✅ “She stayed in the room for 30 minutes.”
Practice:
Fill in the blank:
“The doctor inserted the catheter ___ the vein.”
✅ into
“In” vs. “Into” – Static vs. Movement

11. Preposition Meaning Example Rule
On Static surface
The report is on the desk. Use for contact without
movement
Onto Movement toward
surface
The nurse lifted the patient onto the bed.Use for movement
resulting in position on
surface
“On” vs. “Onto” – Position vs. Direction

12. ?????? Tip:
“Onto” = “on” + movement
✅ “Place the sample onto the slide.”
✅ “The sample is on the slide.”
Practice:
Choose the correct preposition:
“The nurse gently placed the baby ___ the warmer.”
✅ onto
“On” vs. “Onto” – Position vs. Direction

13. Preposition Meaning Example Rule
By Describes agent, means,
or method
The data were analyzed by the
researcher.
Use when referring to
who or how something is
done
With Refers to tools or
instruments
The wound was cleaned with saline. Use for physical tools
or materials
“By” vs. “With” – Method vs. Instrument

14. ?????? Key Distinction:
✅ The medication was administered by the nurse with a
syringe.
Practice:
Choose the correct word:
“The patient was intubated ___ the anesthetist ___ a
laryngoscope.”
✅ by, with
“By” vs. “With” – Method vs. Instrument

15. Preposition Meaning Example Rule
Between Used when
comparing two things
The study compared outcomes
between two hospitals.
Use for two entities
or clearly separated
items
Among Used for three or
more, or undefined
groups
The survey was conducted
among final-year nursing
students.
Use when referring
to a group or
collection
“Among” vs. “Between” – Group vs. Pair

16. ?????? Advanced Tip:
Use “between” even for multiple items if they're distinct
or named:
✅ "Between hospital A, B, and C"
Practice:
Fill in the blank:
“There was a significant difference ___ the three
intervention groups.”
✅ among
“Among” vs. “Between” – Group vs. Pair

17. Preposition Meaning Example Rule
At Specific point or
place
She is working at the hospital.Use for exact
locations
In Inside an area The patient is in the room. Use for enclosed
spaces
“At” vs. “In” vs. “To” – Location & Direction

18. ?????? Common Pitfall:
❌ “He was admitted in the hospital”
✅ “He was admitted to the hospital”
Practice:
Correct the sentence:
“The nurse went in the ICU and stayed at two hours.”
✅ “The nurse went to the ICU and stayed for two hours.”
“At” vs. “In” vs. “To” – Location & Direction

19. Preposition Meaning Example Rule
Of Belonging/descriptionThe title of the paper Used for
association or
relationship
Off Physical
separation/removal
The patch fell off the arm Use when
something
detaches
From Origin/source Side effects resulted from the
drug
Use for cause or
starting point
“Of” vs. “O” vs. “From” – Source & Separation

20. ?????? Confusion Alert:
❌ “The medicine was taken off 8am”
✅ “The medicine was stopped at 8am”
Practice:
Choose the right option:
“The catheter was removed ___ the arm.”
✅ off (context-dependent)
“Of” vs. “O” vs. “From” – Source & Separation

21. Common Errors
Incorrect Why It's Wrong Correct
Data was recorded since
2 months.
“Since” needs a point in timeData was recorded for 2 months.
Injected the drug in the
vein.
“In” implies no movement Injected the drug into the vein.
Patient walked on the
ward.
“On” = already there Patient walked onto the ward.
The nurse has worked
from 5 years.
Use “for” with duration The nurse has worked for 5 years.

22. Common Errors
Error Type Incorrect Example Correct Example
Wrong choice The data was analyzed on SPSS. The data was analyzed using/in
SPSS.
Redundancy Due to the reason… Due to…
Missing prepositionThe paper consists five parts. The paper consists of five parts.
Inappropriate phraseAccording to me... According to the study...

23. Common Errors
Incorrect Correct Why
The data was
collected from
interviews.
The data was collected through interviews. “From” implies source; “through”
means method
The patient was
monitored in 24
hours.
The patient was monitored for 24 hours. “In” = within time limit; “for” =
duration

24. Common Errors
Preposition Pair Academic Context Example Difference
Due to vs. Because
of
Outcome improved due to training. /
Because of training, the outcome improved.
“Due to” follows a noun; “because of”
follows a verb.
Compared to vs.
Compared with
Results were compared with previous
studies.
“Compared to” → similarities;
“compared with” → similarities and
differences
In vs. Within The data were collected within 48 hours. “In” = at any time during; “within” =
not exceeding a limit
Preposition Pair Academic Context Example Difference

25. Common Errors
Incorrect Phrase Correct Usage Explanation
Different than the
control group
Different from the control group “Different from” is preferred in formal
writing
Prior to the
admission
Before the admission “Prior to” is formal; “before” is
simpler and clearer
Adherent with
medication
Adherent to medication “Adherent to” is the correct
collocation
Consist in five
sections
Consist of five sections Fixed phrase: “consist of”
Incorrect Phrase Correct Usage Explanation

26. Common Errors
Verb / Noun /
Adjective
+ Preposition Example
Responsible for The nurse is responsible for documentation.
Correlation between A and B A strong correlation exists between stress and
burnout.
Impact on The intervention had a positive impact on recovery.
Associated with Anxiety is associated with poor sleep quality.
Resulted in The delay resulted in complications.

27. Thank you