come off of the capsule

Tofu · June 16, 2010, 12:41am

Hello Alan, Mister Micawber, Beeesneees, Mordant and other native English speakers,

yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T100614004195.htm
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency confirmed the capsule had been recovered in the desert near Woomera, South Australia, Monday evening. The capsule was first sighted by a Australian Air Force helicopter. The heat shield had come off [color=red]of the capsule, which is about 30 centimeters in diameter, the agency said.

Isn’t [color=red]of necessary?

Mister_Micawber · June 16, 2010, 6:24am

No, it is not. In fact, many prescriptive grammarians eschew that ‘of’.

Tofu · June 16, 2010, 6:30am

Thank you, MM.

Alan · June 16, 2010, 7:29am

Hi Tofu,

The extra ‘of’ appears in lyrics sometimes to help with the singing. Famously you can hear it here:

Alan