ABROAD, ABOARD, ASHORE, AFLOAT etc.

Hello friends!
Good Evening!!

Here is an interesting and informative blog about some common misuses of certain words.

'Abroad' is one of the most incorrectly used common words among the non-native users of English. In India, most of the English speakers, knowingly or unknowingly, say "My brother is living in abroad", "I am going to abroad" etc.
'ABROAD' has several meanings one of which is 'to be outside one's own country, in foreign lands'.
The 'a' in the word stands for an old preposition meaning "in" or "to".

Therefore, the examples given above must be rewritten as:
"My brother is living abroad".  (....living in abroad...)
"I am going abroad".  (....going to abroad...)

We see it also in such words as 'abed', 'amid(st)', 'ashore','afloat', 'aboard' , 'afore',  etc.

He is abed means 'He is in bed'
So, it is incorrect to say, 'He is in abed' or 'He is on abed'.

He finished his speech amid/amidst tremendous applause means 'He finished his speech in the middle of tremendous applause'.
So, it is incorrect to say, 'He finished his speech in amid/amidst of tremendous applause'.

The cruise included several days ashore means 'The cruise included several days on the shore'.
So, it is incorrect to say, 'The cruise included several days on ashore'.

We managed to keep the boat afloat for days means 'We managed to keep the boat floating for days'.
So, it is incorrect to say, 'We managed to keep the boat in/on afloat for days'.

He waved his hands as he went aboard the plane. means He waved his hands as he went onto the plane.
So, itis incorrect t say, He waved his hands as he went on/to aboard the plane.

                                                                                                                                                                                       
Thank very much for your frequent visits and creative and critical feedback.
 Jacob (Nova English Campus)