Such prepositional phrases can bog your writing down and make it dead by increasing the number of nouns in your sentences--and sometimes when we concentrate on nouns, we link those nouns together with weak, empty verbs.
- around the corner
- over the objections of Harriet's boss
- under suspicion
- under consideration
- on the advice of Harry
- over Harry's dead body
- behind his words
- Once upon a time
1. First of all, I was of the opinion of most critics . . . [Better: First, I agreed with most critics . . .]
2. The quotation by Polson about friendship is stating that people make friends for their own benefit and to make themselves look good. [Better: Polson says people make friends because friends are useful . . . Friends can . . .]
4. The description by Norman Mailer of a prize fight illustrates graphically a fight between Paret and Griffith. [Norman Mailer graphically describes a prize fight between Paret and Griffith.]
5. Being in debt, to any extent, seems to be whatever men seem to want to avoid. [Better: People try to avoid debt.]
7. I agree with the opinion of H. L. Mencken. [Better: I agree with Mencken . . . or: Mencken is right.]
8. I am of the opinion that the issue of hunting is wide open for debate.
[Better: Some people like hunting; but intelligent people like me think it's
stupid
and inhumane.]