THE GUARDIAN of September 18 welcomes us to the hall of infamy this week: “The people displaced by the flood apart from being exposed to the inclement weather of mosquito bites resulting into (in) widespread of….”
“But like (as) I said….”
“Funeral obsequies…” Just obsequies
“Christian wake keep service” Call to eternal glory: Christian wake—not ‘wake keep service’ or ‘wake keeping’ as commonly and incorrectly used.
Last week’s edition of this medium almost crippled the English language with the following gaffes: “Iheanacho, former minister released” Without another comma after ‘minister’ it means two persons were involved, which was not the case.
“2015: Only performance can earn Jonathan says PDP” A rewrite: Only performance can earn Jonathan ticket, says PDP
“Hurray!!! (You do not need more than one exclamation mark no matter the depth of excitement!) The chairman of our great party is 77 Birthday (today)” (Full-page advert by Bayelsa State Government, THE NATION ON SUNDAY under reference)
“That will be the icing on the cake and a true deterrence (deterrent) to others who might be planning to replicate the act.”
“As members of the late president’s inner cabinet, they practically dictate (dictated) the pace, pulse and policy direction of government.”
“There are different types of bags in vogue now….” No glamour in this communicative business: ‘vogue’ typifies ‘currency’ (now).
“There are designer branded ones like….” Box bags for all seasons: designer-branded ones….
“Another advantage is the room (roomy) space.”
“Some guys have said that you can (could) find everything in a woman’s bag….”
Lastly from THE NATION ON SUNDAY under review: “Congratulation (Congratulations): My wife, Suzzette, and I most heartily congratulate you for (on/upon) your worthy contributions….” “Once again, congratulations for (sic) a well deserved (well-deserved) national honour.” (Full-page advert by Chief (Barr.) Ezenwa Nyesom Wike, Honourable Minister of State for Education)
Vanguard Special Report of September 14 fumbled: “Our grouse with (about) the ICJ judgment, GTA—Gov Imoke”
“After two years on (in) the saddle, NFF board gives self pass mark…” (DAILY SUN Banner, September 12)
“This conclusion was arrived at as history is trying to repeat itself again as it is wont to do….” Delete ‘again’.
“However does the separation of powers that are (is) discernible in government textbooks operate in real life.”
“It will present events in the two chambers, record achievements, gossips and….” ‘Gossip’ is non-count.
“The consensus of opinion in the country today….” I insist on ‘consensus’ (without ‘of opinion’).
“Saturday promises to be a historic day in the annals of the country’s history.” Either: the annals of the country or the country’s history. Mr. Bayo Oguntuase, a popular and respected language activist, believes the extract is correct, but I disagree.
“Except round pegs are put in round holes, the nation will be the looser (loser) for it.”
“Whatever happens, the shooting of the minister from our initial analysis might tempt us to point all the accusing fingers toward the west.” Before the darkness: point the finger at the west.
“Osun police impounds N650m worth of cars.” Get it right: Osun police impound….
“US terrorist suspect to plead innocent” This way: innocence.
“If you have crisis, you will sit down in a roundtable and resolve the difference.” Either a crisis or crises—depending on context—and resolve the differences.
“This, therefore, means that the power and authority of governments become government of all people not just of their party faithfuls (faithful).”
“Communities demand for new council in Yobe” For the last time, ‘demand’ as a verb does not admit ‘for’ except in noun applications.
“If 42 years after the war, there is still what is called abandoned property, and the Igbo is (are) still….”
“The police on September 20 gave details of its preliminary investigations into.…” Newspaper of the Year: their preliminary investigations….
“One had expected the government to find out where the arms and ammunitions Boko Haram members use come from.” Breeding murderers: ‘ammunition’ is non-count.
“Also, corporate bodies and wealthy individuals have been falling over themselves (one another) to host the Paralympians.”
“For this reason, it is an affront on (to) democracy and representative government for the ACN leader to demand dissolution of the senate.…”
“You must have read all manners (manner) of eulogies and tributes.”
“The rumour is still making (doing or going) the rounds, an evidence that the rumour mill is in good and perfectly working condition in our dear country.”
“We probably would have stomached the distasteful script if nobody has (had) thought hired assassins (assassins are usually hired!) should be included in the cast.”
“The relationship between the politicians and the administrators have (has) been known to either make or mar….”
“Ondo polls: five groups kick-off Mimiko’s re-election campaign” Phrasal verbs do not admit hyphenation. For how long shall we continue to harp on this, gentlemen of the press?
“On Thursday, the union suspended its strike after an Abuja high court has (had), in my view, correctly, declared it illegal, its advert stating its grouse against (about) the government was published in some dailies.”
“This is not to discountenance the possibility of groups of the men of sordid yesteryears planning to go violent.” Matters arising: apart from the clumsiness of the extract, ‘yesteryear’ is uncountable.
“The dramatis personae was (were).…” Singular: dramatis persona; plural: dramatis personae.
“With study centres springing up across the country, this category of students including matured (mature) persons….”
