Know this, once and for all!

 Wednesday, March 30, 2016

 In the last lesson, I asked to know whether you say: "My names are Bayo Chukwudi Musa" or "My name is Bayo Chukwudi Musa". Truth is that even if you have close to ten names, as the tradition is, contributed to you by different people at birth, they all still amount to a single name, accounting for one person. So, it is always: "My name is Bayo Chukwudi Musa". See also: "My name is Hope Achera Jonah (not 'are')." "My name is Rose Abike Omodara Adekoya (not 'are')." Do you now get?

What do you say to this?

Tuesday, March 29, 2016
 Someone still asked to know if you say: "My name is Bayo Chukwudi Musa" or "My names are Bayo Chukwudi Musa". I mean when you are to introduce yourself, mentioning all the names you were given from birth; say your first name, middle name and last name. Among the two, which do you think is correct? Let's hear you react.

Let's evaluate Hon. Obiahagbon's Easter Speech

 Monday, March. 28, 2016 Hon. PATRICK OBAHIAGBON's EASTER GREETINGS "As we join Christians in the celebration of Easter, may we truly reflect on the quintessential modus vivendi of Master Jesus; The Christ, who peregrinated this incarnation as an exempli gratia of self abnegation, puritanical excrescence, spartan discipline, mental magnitude, hierophantic candour and altruistic effusions,qualities which have become a desiderata for national resurgimento. Beyond the fugacious razzmatazz of the moment, I seriously call attention to the rutilanting and coruscating modus vivendi of Master Jesus the Christ and I dare pontificate that save and until we viscerally emblematize the virtues of self-immolation, quintessential abnegation, eulogizeable simplicity, Christ-like humility and immerse ourselves in a platonic emotionalism of agape love and communalistic service, we would have woefully failed in learning and imbibing the true meaning of EASTER. We must elevate this moment from a proscenium of joie de vivre into one of meditative transcendentalism”. HAPPY EASTER. MY TAKE: I don't know if you have seen this post, before now. I sent it to my boss and mentor, an erudite scholar of English, Prof. Segun Awonusi, and hear what he said: "Obiahagbon is a crazy user/abuser of language." That is the same opinion I have always had and I keep telling people that once you cannot communicate effectively, you abuse the essence of language because the main purpose of language is for effective communication. I just feel you should all know this now.

Too many people would have likely committed this blunder!

Sunday, March 27, 2016
 "Thank God he rose from the dead. Wishing you all a happy easter." I'm sure you must have received or sent such message, today. CAUTION: Every time it refers to God, the pronoun, "he" must always have the initial letter capitalised, regardless of the position it appears in the sentence. Secondly, there is nothing as "happy easter". It is always "Happy Easter". That phrase must always have its initial letters written in capital letters.
 Let's now correct the above expression: "Thank God He rose from the dead. Wishing you all a Happy Easter." Happy Easter to you all from all of us at TELAWAA!

I rather you get this right.

Saturday, March 26, 2016
 Lest people start abusing the past tense and past participle forms of "rise" and "arise", on a day like Easter, let me quickly do justice to that. "rise/rose/risen" "arise/arose/arisen" e.g. If Christ hadn't arisen/risen from the dead, what would have become of us all? (not "arose/rose"). Can you see for yourself now?

Using "demand"

 Friday, March 25, 2016
 Someone wrote: "The Federal Government will soon demand for old account books." What do you see wrong with that? CAUTION: The word "demand", as a verb, doesn't take on "for". e.g. I am going to his office to demand my money (not "...demand for my money"). NB: As a noun, "demand" can take on "for". I repeat, only as a noun. e.g. The demand for stolen funds is the next on the agenda. I hope this is clear enough?

I rather you get this right!

 Thursday, March 24, 2016
 I think it is important I correct this idiom, perhaps to stop the abuse it has suffered, over the years. "Cut your coat according to your size." Sorry, it's "Cut your cloth according to your cloth". Yes, that is how you have it in English, and this is the meaning: "To do just what you have the money and strength to do, and nothing more." May I emphasise it: "Cut your cloth according to your cloth". Kindly note!

Learn this idiom.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016
 As an idiom, what does it mean "to die a natural death"? When an issue or situation dies a natural death, it implies "to fade away, diminish or die down". e.g. If you don't look for money to pay your children's school fees, their education may die a natural death. Do you now see how it can be used effectively?

British English versus American English

Tuesday, March 22, 2016
 Never use 'z' when you should use 's', in some words. Note that words like "realise", "optimise", "minimise", "marginalise", "organise", "finalise", etc. (with their nominal forms; e.g. "realisation"), all have 'se' as their last two letters, not 'ze'. The difference is all about British English as opposed to American English. BrE is 'se' while AmE is 'ze'. NB: BrE is the adopted Standard for us, for two major reasons: 1. The Britons are the Native speakers of English. 2. We (Nigeria) got our independence from them. Is that okay?

Something about "towel" and "tower"

Monday, March 21, 2016
 It may interest you to know that you have never got the correct pronunciation of the words "towel" and "tower". CAUTION: Especially at the point of the first syllable, we often miss the correct pronunciation of these words. Here you have: towel-- /ˈtaʊəl/ tower-- / ˈtaʊə/  NB: Take a cursory look at the first vowel letter and see that it is not the same with how people say it everywhere. I need you to digest this!

You will surely find this interesting!

 Sunday, March 20, 2016
 When you say "in-laws", that doesn't mean you add the plural marker 's' to "in-laws" when you use it alongside a head-word. Simply put, this is what I mean: You can't say "I have three brother-in-laws"; it is: "brothers-in-law"; "sisters-in-law" "mothers-in-law" NB: In the above, "brother", "sister", "mother" are the head-words in these compound words and should carry the 's' plural marker, not "law". e.g. All mothers-in-law should beware of the way they interfere in the relationships of their children (not "mother-in-laws"). I need you to digest this, please.

imagine this blunder!

 Saturday, March 19, 2016
 "Imagine! That girl is very rude and very insultive. She was just insulting everybody." That's what I heard someone say. What do you see wrong with that? CAUTION: There is no such word as "insultive", in English. I wonder where people manufactured it. The correct word is "insulting", never "insultive". e.g. She is very insulting (not "insultive"). Kindly digest!

These are words you have hardly pronounced correctly!

Friday, March 18, 2016
 In the words "exam", "examine", and "examination", the first two letters are not pronounced the way we, popularly, have them. CAUTION: The "ex" is pronounced as /igz/. The word "examination is transcribed as /ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃn/. NB: Public speakers, writers, reporters and everyone else should, please, take note!

These are words you have hardly pronounced correctly!

Friday, March 18, 2016
 In the words "exam", "examine", and "examination", the first two letters are not pronounced the way we, popularly, have them. CAUTION: The "ex" is pronounced as /igz/. The word "examination is transcribed as /ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃn/. NB: Public speakers, writers, reporters and everyone else should, please, take note!

This is a popular idiom often abused!

Thursday, March 17, 2016
 I'd like us to consider this popular idiom: "All that glitters is not gold." I often hear some people say: "All that glitters are not gold." To start with, let me emphasise that: 1. the subject of the sentence is "All", not "glitters". 2. "All" is a singular pronoun, although can serve as plural in certain contextual situations. The idiom is always: "All that glitters is not gold (not 'are')." Kindly digest!

This is a must-know!

Wednesday, March 16, 2016
 "At this junction, you have to take caution." Someone said that, through a text. What do you think is wrong with that expression? CAUTION: Never you say "junction" when you should say "juncture". Both words are not the same, please. The expression should be: "At this juncture, you have to take caution." NB: The word "junction" refers to a position where two or more roads meet; while the synonym for "juncture" is "point". e.g. At this point/juncture, I think we have to start suspecting the bus driver (not "junction"). I hope you get?

"each other" versus "one another"

Tuesday, March 15, 2016
 A resource person was addressing a group of people and I heard her say: "We must continue to love each other; work for each other and support each other." I just said to myself: "Sorry, that's a blunder. It's 'one another' ." CAUTION: You only say "each other" when you refer to just two persons. If more than two, say "one another". e.g. The two sisters love each other (not "one another") We must continue to love one another; work for one another and support one another" (not "each other"). Is that clear enough?

"in" and "at" of a place

 Monday, March 14, 2016

 Someone asked to know which is correct: Queen at the palace of Adewale. Queen in the palace of Adewale. CAUTION: I rather you know that they have different meaning; slightly though. When you are "at", it implies that you have not gained full access. Being at the palace may mean you are merely in the compound. To be "at" can also mean you now refer to a specific place within the palace. On the other hand, to be "in" the place conotes that you are fully on ground and perhaps have full access to everywhere within the palace. It's first about intended/situational meaning, anyway! You understand?

See how you have "murdered" this!

Sunday, March 13, 2016
 Without having a second thought, I see that most people would rather say something like: "This environment is conducive for learning." Yes, isn't that not what you are likely to say? CAUTION: The adjective "conducive" collocates with "to", not "for". e.g. This environment is conducive to learning (not "for"). Let me cite another example: The school has a very serene environment which is conducive to learning (not "...conducive for learning"). I hope you find this quite interesting?

"cattles'?

Saturday, March 12, 2016
 On a local TV station, I watched a correspondent say: "The state government has warned herdsmen to tame their cattles." Excuse me, who says the word "cattle" can take on an 's', as if it is a countable noun? Sorry, "cattle" is "always "cattle" and it is a non-count noun that must not take on an 's' in any case whatsoever. I repeat, never you add 's' to the word "cattle". Is that clear enough?

See how much of abuse you have done to this idiom!

TELAWAA: Friday, March 11, 2016

"I will forgive you and let bygone be bygone."

That is what I heard from an actor, in a movie, today. Can you see anything wrong with that? I'm sure that neither the actor, the scriptwriter, the producer nor the director knows that that is a blunder to say. CAUTION: The word in that idiom is always "bygones"; it's never "bygone". Say: "....let bygones be bygones". e.g. I will forgive you and let bygones be bygones. Another example: The priest told me to reconcile with her and let bygones be bygones. Note that "bygones" is one word. Not "by-gones" Not "by gones" Also note that there is no letter 'e' added to 'by'. I mean it is not "bye". I hope this is well understood now?

"responsive" versus "responsible"

 Thursday, March 10, 2016
 The words "responsive" and "responsible" don't have the same meaning, lest someone continues to use them interchangeably. CAUTION: The adjective --"responsive" is from the verb "respond". e.g. The rescuers were responsive to a distress call, and arrived the accident scene on time (not "responsible"). The adjective --"responsible" is that one from the noun --"responsibility". e.g. He is seen as a very responsible man because he takes care of his wife and kids (not "responsive"). I hope this is clear enough?

"turquoise"

 Wednesday, March 9, 2016
 That word is spelt "turquoise". I mean the word that talks about a shade of colour blue. I have come across all sorts of funny spellings and consequent wrong pronunciations, and I feel it is crucial I bring this forward. I do hope you now know it at once!

You just must know this!

Tuesday, March 8, 2016
 In the word "whereabouts", always ensure you avoid the common error of omitting the last letter 's'. In both spoken and written forms, I see that people often omit the 's' in that word. Sorry, it is "whereabouts" (not "whereabout"). e.g. She asked me if I knew the "whereabouts" of her son (not "whereabouts"). Also note that "whereabouts" is one word and must not be split or hyphenated. i.e. Not "Where abouts" Not "where-abouts" Kindly note.  

Learn these spellings.

Monday, March 7, 2016
 Let's learn some spellings: "succinct","pusillanimous", "occasion", "accommodation"... I need you to note the letters that have to be doubled in these words. I have observed that most people commit the error of not knowing that some of these letters MUST to be doubled. Can you see it clearly now?

See these grammatical blunders!

 Sunday, March 6, 2016
 See what I got from a popular blogger, today: "Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo, joined other christian faithfuls to celebrate Mothers day at Aso Rock Chapel in Abuja...." Let me bring out two grammatical blunders from that: 1. Christian faithful (not "christian faithfuls") 2. Mothers' Day (not "Mothers day") NB: For (1), you don't add 's' to "Christian faithful" because the noun phrase already indicates plurality. For (2), notable dates and events are written having the initials capitalised. You must also ensure you add an apostrophe to "Mothers' ". e.g. Mothers' Day Children's Day I feel it is important you digest this!

Using articles to precede certain nouns.

 Saturday, March 5, 2016

 Never you miss out the addition of articles in certain non-count nouns like "noise", "meeting", "information", etc. The articles "a","an" and "the" must be used to precede these nouns. e.g. Don't make a noise (not "Don't make noise"). The wife of the president has an assignment to give to you (not just "assignment"). She said the meeting would start at exactly 5pm (note the "the"). Is that okay now?

See this!

TELAWAA: Friday, March 4, 2016
 Consider this: "Before I count from one to ten, you must tell me who took the money I kept here". Sorry, you simply "count up to ten". Say: "Before I count up to ten, you must tell me who took the money I kept here". CAUTION: The reason is because it is assumed that counting starts from one; at least, in the ordinary or elementary sense. I hope you get?

Hear what I heard from a TV reporter!

 Thursday, March 3, 2016
 I was watching a crime reporter reporting a case of inter-tribal war between some Yorubas and Hausas in Mile 12, Lagos, today. The reporter ended up saying: "The man was later shot on the chest". Immediately, all alone, I just jumped up and screamed: "No! You shoot IN the chest (not "on"). CAUTION: You shoot or stab IN... (not "ON"). More examples: The man was stabbed in the leg while trying to escape (not "on the leg"). The lady was shot in the hand (not "on the hand"). This is crucial to note!

Imagine this blunder!

 Wednesday, March 2, 2016
 That moment when someone tried to reach you but you missed her calls and when you finally picked it, you heard: "Did you saw my missed call?" What would you say? The caller would have thought that since it is in the past, then the past tense form of a verb should be used to ask the question. Sorry, not so! Basically, questions, in their direct forms, are asked using simple present tense forms of verbs (i.e. see") If you saw the call, you can then say: "Yes, I saw it". This appears simple but many are still caught guilty of it. Many more people that would say they cannot be caught guilty of such "cheap" blunder don't even know the underlying principles that guide such. I guess you now know better? Kindly note.

"traffic" and "traffic jam" don't mean same.

 Tuesday, March 1, 2016
 Lest you continue to use them interchangeably, may I tell you that there is a difference between "traffic"and "traffic jam". The first simply refers to the vehicles on the road at a given time; the second means "a long line of vehicles on a road that is now at a standstill or moving slowly". I see we mostly say things like: "There is traffic today; I spent about five hours in the traffic", when we actually mean to refer to "traffic jam". They are not the same, please!
 I need to emphasis this, and please, digest.