- I am finally free of dandruff.
- I am finally free off dandruff.
- I am finally free from dandruff.
Please correct the above.
Thanks.
2 is incorrect.
How can we bring out the exact difference in meaning between ‘free of’ and ‘free from’?
In this example, because both work equally well, I don’t think the majority of native English speakers would consider any differences, In this instance they would use them interchangeably, as in this definition:
free from/of something not containing or affected by something harmful or unpleasant
free from difficulty/doubt/fear
free from artificial colours and flavourings
It was several weeks before he was completely free of pain.
oxfordlearnersdictionaries.c … e_1?q=free
If you really want to think things through further, then as you might imagine, there’s a great deal of discussion regarding any nuances. I think of everything I’ve read, this seems to be the clearest distinction, though it is by no means a universal agreement (I’m not sure I agree with it myself - I just provide it for your contemplation), and as I said, in the instance of ‘dandruff’ I really don’t think it matters:
“free of dandruff” gives the impression that dandruff was a burden;
“free from dandruff”, gives the impression that dandruff was in control (of your hair).
I would say that ‘free from’ suggests that certain elements/parts are not present in an entity. For example people who have an allergy will look in the supermarket shelves for food that is free from soya/gluten/wheat and so on. This really describes a state. On the other hand ‘free of’ often indicates a process of release. We could say that someone is free of cancer now having endured cancer previously. An item you buy could be free of a certain tax.
Yes, I think I get what you both mean.
But it is strangely different when we turn to their noun forms - freedom of and freedom from as is seen in:
1. You have no freedom of speech in this country.
2. You really need freedom from the Iron Curtain.
What do you say?