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WRONG: “Off/on the light”; right: put off/on or activate/disable/switch on the light
“This is why in the developed world, creation of jobs either by the public or private sector is used as indices of (for) measuring the health of the economy.”
“This is so because the unemployed constitutes (constitute) a big burden on the purse of the government (which government?).”
“…the level of unemployment generated on a monthly is key in information for the government.” My view: a monthly basis or monthly.
“…to firmly tackle the problem of unemployment in the country.’ A rewrite: to firmly tackle unemployment in the country.
“That is why there is explosion (an explosion) of Nigerian students in Ghanaian universities.”
“Few (A few) months ago….”
“A former senator from Bayelsa State and an ex-militant leader reportedly bolted away recently with the sum of….” Delete ‘away’ to avoid lexical vandalism (not ‘vandalisation’ as wrongly appears in some newspapers!).
“It is very easy for somebody with youthful exuberance to believe on (in) his power….”
“They shuttle between lectures to meet up in (on) the satellite campus.”
“The Fourth Republic was aborted, so the five political parties chose late General Sani Abacha as their sole presidential candidate.” Power struggle in Nigeria: the late General Sani Abacha….
“…never mind the diamond and other non-military side-shows that are now making (doing or going) the rounds.”
“These issues may sound mundane but they speak volume (volumes) about how prepared our soldiers are.…”
“Within the last 30 years, $330 billion have (has) been expended on behalf of the average Nigerian but….”
“Common sense demands that a lion share (lion’s share) of taxes….”
“…the errors of the military would be repeated again.” ‘Repeated again’ is indicative of slipshod writing.
“The president’s numerous visits to market Nigeria abroad is (how?) beginning to yield fruit.”
“As the name implies, it was a one day (sic) civic reception for the Vice-President by Northern Nigerians as one of its (their) own.”
“…the MEND leader and the President fought themselves (each other) to a stalemate.” What has happened to the law of pronoun reciprocity?
“During the heydays of Sani Abacha, I found myself compelled to follow the.…” Portraits in infancy and criminal impunity: ‘heyday’ is uncountable.
“Take the bull by the horn.” The ides of April: horns.
“But its effort so far has been ineffectual as the oil subsidy crises has (what?) remained unresolved.”
“I am ready to relief (relieve) the president of the burden of expectations.”
“…is known for his restiveness on issues bothering on education.” Distinguish between ‘bother’ and ‘border.’
“From time to time…religious faithfuls in a multi-religious society like Nigeria. …” Still on the country’s secularity: the (religious) faithful, not faithfuls.
“We cannot afford to bath repeatedly on a tragic spot in Nigeria’s river of politics.” Noun: bath; verb: bathe
“The debt comprises of unpaid arrears amounting to.…” In conformity with standard writing, delete ‘of’ from the excerpt.
‘Otherwise, the entire Sharia system is almost a throw-back to the damages of the dagger and sword.” Except in legalese, ‘damage’ is non-count.
“…the strongest vote anybody had ever passed on (in) the coach.”
“The vehicles plying it were damaged by the logs of wood.” ‘Logs of woods’ is simply tautological! Either ‘logs’ or ‘woods’
“The remains of late (the late) Miss…who died in a ghastly (fatal) motor accident….”
“Admittedly (a comma) the many sins of yesteryears cannot be wiped out in one fell swoop….” ‘Yesteryear’ is uncountable.
“But the selfsame (same) Britain did rule this country, Nigeria, for “a whole 100 (good 100 or all of 100) years.” Special note: ‘whole’ is used for a SINGULAR NOUN (e.g. a whole year, the whole country, a whole university graduate) and NOT for plural nouns.
“How is the programme fairing (faring) in Bauchi State?” Note: How did you fare (not fair) in your examination?
As the late Bayo Oguntuase used to say, I have become, like Ndaeyo Uko, a man well-known for his sardonic wit and wisdom and for his penchant for the use of irony and pun. Truly, some Nigerians, including journalists, writers and columnists, are trying their hardest to un-English the English language beyond recognition, just like the people of Virgin Islands! These people’s variety of English is called ‘Calypo English’ just as the African-Americans have ‘South or Black English.’ And Nigerians have ‘Nigerian English’! But English, like truth, is one.
It should be noted that although “still yet” is not accepted as a standard phrase, “yet still” is quite accepted. “Yet still” is used by modem writers, particularly British journalists and writers. Example: “At home (in the U.S.A) the terrifying problems of crime, racial violence, social disharmony refused to yield to oratory, however inspiring, or to law, however comprehensive yet still the Kennedy magic advanced. He was not really a radical; if anything, he was a careful conservator. Some select people called “speech writers” are very fond of mechanical errors that result in failed, fractured or diseased English. It is very sad. Yes, it is our moral duty to ensure that some folk are not allowed to kill this universal language.
Please note that while ‘general consensus’ is unacceptable, ‘broad consensus’ is and while ‘heavy downpour’ is not allowable, ‘great downpour’ is.
FEEDBACK
“THANKS for your efforts at making Nigerians imbibe the culture of lexical and syntactic decorum. We seem to be quite adept at creating strange coinages. Examples: ‘off the light’; ‘he did not pick his call’; ‘how is your wife and children?’ You may not believe this, ‘a small child is worrying you’!—that is, your behaviour is childish. But on a more serious note, do those concerned take corrections from your weekly menu? Keep it up nonetheless.” (Prof. N.P. Okolie/University of Benin/07031677944)
“I have just read through your page in THE SUN of April 5, 2023. I found it enlightening, educative and transforming. Keep it up.” (Revd. Chinenye Onwuegbuchi/Aba/Abia State/08064100655)
”AS at press time’ and ‘as of press time’: which one is correct? I have taken time to look through the Oxford dictionary. I am yet to see ‘as at’. Secondly, ‘over’ as a preposition means because or concerning something. Olu was arrested over stealing. See ‘preposition (help) number 12 of Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Honestly, I have benefited immensely from your column. Keep it viable. Thanks.” (SOD/Ondo/08078224716)
MY response: Because of the precision element in timing, we correctly talk of ‘as at press time’ and the standard (phrasal verb) expression is ‘arrest for’—never ‘arrest over’ no matter the circumstance! Its ubiquitous and pervasive usage in the Nigerian media cannot make it right.
“THE gaffes I see in THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER, alone are enough material for your column, even if you are given a full page for them. This is so sad. I wish reporters, columnists, proofreaders and editors would do the jobs which titles they bear. Thanks.” (CV/08030727151)
