Off vs. Of
What Is Their Main Difference?
Both can be prepositions and have nearly identical dictations. 'Off', however, is the contrasting word for 'on' and indicates separating something from the other. It can be an adverb, too. 'Of' refers to something that is part of another thing. We can also use 'of' to indicate a specific point in time or space. Additionally, we can make a noun phrase out of a verb phrase using 'of'.
Diffrernces
As mentioned above, 'off' shows disconnecting something/someone from another thing/person. It can function as both a preposition and an adverb. Look at the examples below:
Let me take off my dress and rest a bit.
The airplane took off gently.
'Of', on the other hand, can have several meanings. We can use it to make a noun phrase out of a verb phrase. When we want to refer to something that is a part of another thing, we mainly use 'of'. Also, we can use 'of' to refer to a particular point in time and space. Another use of 'of' is to refer something that contains another thing in itself. Look at the examples below:
Let me get you a glass of water.
Here, 'of' indicates something that contains another thing.
A part of me wanted to scream and beat them to death.
Here, it is referring to something that is part of another thing.
At the time of the Revolution, the police force all shoot to kill.
In this example, it is referring to a particular period of time.
Similarities
Their only similarity is that they can both be prepositions. Look:
Clean off the table, would you?
We will all be celebrating the victory on the 5th of July.
Are They Interchangeable?
Although they can both be prepositions, they can never be used interchangeably. Compare:
✓ The students ran off to the street and fought for their rights.
X The students ran of to the street and fought for their rights.
As you can see, this one is grammatically and semantically incorrect.
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