Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition.

Gossiping is quite different ………………… (of / from / with) talking. While gossiping is bad, talking ……………… (about / off / by) other people isn’t always bad. For example, you might like hanging …………………. (off / out / on) with a particular friend, simply because s/he is a cool sport. There is nothing wrong ………………….. (to / of / with) telling this to your friends.

But when you say mean things ……………….. (of / on / about) other people, tell stories that you are not sure are true or reveal information you are supposed to keep secret, you are spreading gossip. Gossips can be quite hurtful and they spread real fast. They often start small and blow …………………. (off / up / out) into something quite different from the truth.

Sometimes it is possible that you heard something you know is true. Are you supposed to talk about it if it is hurtful or embarrassing …………………… (to / with / for) another person? No, you are not. Try to avoid talking about things that would embarrass or hurt another person. Before you blab, ask yourself if you would like other people to know that kind …………………… (of / off / on) stuff about you. Nine ………………………… (out / on / off) of ten times your answer is going to be ‘No’.

Answers

Gossiping is quite different from talking. While gossiping is bad, talking about other people isn’t always bad. For example, you might like hanging out with a particular friend, simply because s/he is a cool sport. There is nothing wrong with telling this to your friends.

But when you say mean things about other people, tell stories that you are not sure are true or reveal information you are supposed to keep secret, you are spreading gossip. Gossips can be quite hurtful and they spread real fast. They often start small and blow up into something quite different from the truth. Sometimes it is possible that you heard something you know is true. Are you supposed to talk about it if it is hurtful or embarrassing to another person? No, you are not. Try to avoid talking about things that would embarrass or hurt another person. Before you blab, ask yourself if you would like other people to know that kind of stuff about you. Nine out of ten times your answer is going to be ‘No’.