Regarding a use preposition and article

Question

Sentence: Why are you giving wrong advice of/for deleting the windows folder ? It can cause trouble. Never ever try it, not even by a mistake ?My question: What preposition, of or for, would be correct in the sentence ? My own feeling is preposition "of" but not sure. Apropos of the article, will the article "a" comes before the word mistake ? I don't think so, but countable and uncountable noun has confused me. Therefore, I'm  asking.Regards and thanks

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Why are you giving wrong advice for deleting the windows folder? It can cause trouble. Never ever try it, not even by a mistake?

By mistake is the right adverb phrase, it means by accident, accidentally or in error.

Mr Wordy · Answer

I assume that people are not supposed to be deleting the folder at all (not that it's OK to delete it, but the wrong advice about how to delete it is being given). Neither of your suggestions seems ideal. You can say "Why are you wrongly advising people to delete the Windows folder?"

"a" is wrong. The expression is "(do something) by mistake" (don't worry about why: it's just an idiom). However, the sentence doesn't work for me, because if you try it, then you're making a conscious decision, so it can hardly be "by mistake".

Joe2012 · Answer

Thanks both of you.

Regarding a use preposition and article

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions