Friday, April 29, 2016
"At what point did you demand for your money?"
That is a question asked by someone.
Sorry, let me sound it to your hearing:
You don't "demand for"; you simply "demand".
Say: "At what point did you demand your money?"
Someone also said:
"Order for your beads and hats";
Sorry, you don't "order for", you simply "order".
Say : "Order your beads and hats";
How I wish you digest this and pass it on to other prospective culprits.
Thanks.
Saturday, 30 April 2016
Friday, 29 April 2016
Who is your "brother", "sister"?
Thursday, April. 28, 2016
When I say "This is my brother", it is a blunder for you to ask me: "Is he your biological brother?" Truth is that in Standard English, your "brother" is your male sibling that you share the same blood with. i.e. From the same parents, same father or mother. In this part of the world, we call every male "brother"; say Church mates, classmates, friends, etc.
Same applies to "sister".
Let me treat "uncle " and "aunt" later.
I understand that idea though, but we are talking English here. Is that clear?
When I say "This is my brother", it is a blunder for you to ask me: "Is he your biological brother?" Truth is that in Standard English, your "brother" is your male sibling that you share the same blood with. i.e. From the same parents, same father or mother. In this part of the world, we call every male "brother"; say Church mates, classmates, friends, etc.
Same applies to "sister".
Let me treat "uncle " and "aunt" later.
I understand that idea though, but we are talking English here. Is that clear?
Thursday, 28 April 2016
Check out your spellings!
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Check your spellings: "accommodation", "occasion", "pronunciation". For accommodation, note that it is double C and double M. For "occasion", note that it is Double C and single S. For "pronunciation", note that there is no letter O before the U.
Most people often spell as "pronounciation" and that is very wrong.
Is that clear now?
Check your spellings: "accommodation", "occasion", "pronunciation". For accommodation, note that it is double C and double M. For "occasion", note that it is Double C and single S. For "pronunciation", note that there is no letter O before the U.
Most people often spell as "pronounciation" and that is very wrong.
Is that clear now?
Wednesday, 27 April 2016
Mind this "grammar", please!
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
See this: "One of the boys (is/are) here." Which of the options is correct? It is "IS".
CAUTION: Many people are likely to think that the correct is "ARE", maybe because of the word "boys" which is a plural noun and closer to the verbal space. No, "boys" isn't the subject of the sentence. It is the phrase "one of the boys", meaning just one out of many boys.
Don't get it twisted, please!
See this: "One of the boys (is/are) here." Which of the options is correct? It is "IS".
CAUTION: Many people are likely to think that the correct is "ARE", maybe because of the word "boys" which is a plural noun and closer to the verbal space. No, "boys" isn't the subject of the sentence. It is the phrase "one of the boys", meaning just one out of many boys.
Don't get it twisted, please!
Monday, 25 April 2016
"junks", "jargons"?
Monday, April 25, 2016
The word "junk" mustn't take on 's'. In other words, no such word as "junks". Isn't that not what you say when you eat "biscuits, pie, and other snacks? Say "I like taking junk (not 'junks')". Also, the word "jargon" isn't to take on 's'.
No such word as "jargons". e.g. He kept talking jargon and I just couldn't pick any point (not "jargons"). Is that clear?
The word "junk" mustn't take on 's'. In other words, no such word as "junks". Isn't that not what you say when you eat "biscuits, pie, and other snacks? Say "I like taking junk (not 'junks')". Also, the word "jargon" isn't to take on 's'.
No such word as "jargons". e.g. He kept talking jargon and I just couldn't pick any point (not "jargons"). Is that clear?
See a post I got full of blunders.
Sunday, April 24, 2016
I got this post from a friend: "As you make your bed, so you lay on it. Make your bedroom beautiful all the time. Order for 100% cotton for bedsheets ,duvets,duvet covers..."
What do you see wrong with that? Of course, I can see two blunders here: 1. "lie" is the correct word, not "lay".i.e. "As you make your bed, so you LIE on it." 2. You don't "order for", you simply "order". i.e. Order 100% cotton for bedsheets ,duvets,duvet covers...." (It's incorrect to add "for" to the verb "order".) Is this now clear enough?
I got this post from a friend: "As you make your bed, so you lay on it. Make your bedroom beautiful all the time. Order for 100% cotton for bedsheets ,duvets,duvet covers..."
What do you see wrong with that? Of course, I can see two blunders here: 1. "lie" is the correct word, not "lay".i.e. "As you make your bed, so you LIE on it." 2. You don't "order for", you simply "order". i.e. Order 100% cotton for bedsheets ,duvets,duvet covers...." (It's incorrect to add "for" to the verb "order".) Is this now clear enough?
Saturday, 23 April 2016
These are too common blunders!
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Every time I walk past a shop and I see "Books and Stationeries sold here", I tend to wonder how much people have abused that word "stationery", thinking you can add "ies" to form its plural.
CAUTION: The word "stationery" must not take on 'ies' in any case whatsoever. i.e. "stationery" is always "stationery". Same applies to "jewellery" and "cutlery". Never attempt to add "ies" to them, please!
Every time I walk past a shop and I see "Books and Stationeries sold here", I tend to wonder how much people have abused that word "stationery", thinking you can add "ies" to form its plural.
CAUTION: The word "stationery" must not take on 'ies' in any case whatsoever. i.e. "stationery" is always "stationery". Same applies to "jewellery" and "cutlery". Never attempt to add "ies" to them, please!
Friday, 22 April 2016
"fez cap", not "face cap"
Friday, April 21, 2016
May I let you know that what you call "face cap" is actually "fez cap". CAUTION: The cap you often wear on your heard is "fez cap", not "face cap".
Do you still doubt it? Check your dictionary, please. Raise your hand, if you have been guilty of these, all along! I'm sure I would see many hands raised now.
Caution, please!
May I let you know that what you call "face cap" is actually "fez cap". CAUTION: The cap you often wear on your heard is "fez cap", not "face cap".
Do you still doubt it? Check your dictionary, please. Raise your hand, if you have been guilty of these, all along! I'm sure I would see many hands raised now.
Caution, please!
Thursday, 21 April 2016
Hear this blunder from a newcaster!
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Just this afternoon, during the mid-day news hour of a popular local TV station, I heard the newscaster say: "...all the cattles of the herdsmen". I just couldn't stop to imagine why that newscaster would think that the word "cattle" can take on 's'.
Sorry, it's never so! The word cattle is a non-count noun, used in the generic sense to refer to cows. It must not take on 's' in any case, whatsoever. The expression should have been "...all the cattle of the herdsmen."
Noted?
Just this afternoon, during the mid-day news hour of a popular local TV station, I heard the newscaster say: "...all the cattles of the herdsmen". I just couldn't stop to imagine why that newscaster would think that the word "cattle" can take on 's'.
Sorry, it's never so! The word cattle is a non-count noun, used in the generic sense to refer to cows. It must not take on 's' in any case, whatsoever. The expression should have been "...all the cattle of the herdsmen."
Noted?
Wednesday, 20 April 2016
"How is you?"
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
I am aware that some people would say "How is you?", in the place of "How are you?", and someone has queried me to know if it is correct. Never! That can never be correct. That is probably from American Pidgin English.
NB: Every language has it's own pidgin form, like we have Yoruba Pidgin, Igbo Pidgin, Hausa Pidgin, and so on. I know this would generate a lot of dust. Ask me any question!
I am aware that some people would say "How is you?", in the place of "How are you?", and someone has queried me to know if it is correct. Never! That can never be correct. That is probably from American Pidgin English.
NB: Every language has it's own pidgin form, like we have Yoruba Pidgin, Igbo Pidgin, Hausa Pidgin, and so on. I know this would generate a lot of dust. Ask me any question!
Thursday, 14 April 2016
"strike"
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
"I have striked out that for now, since I can't help it." That's what someone said. CAUTION: Like this fellow, you too are likely to think that the past tense and past participle of "strike" is "striked". No! Say "strike/struck/struck" e.g. I have struck out that for now, since I can't help it. Thanks!
"I have striked out that for now, since I can't help it." That's what someone said. CAUTION: Like this fellow, you too are likely to think that the past tense and past participle of "strike" is "striked". No! Say "strike/struck/struck" e.g. I have struck out that for now, since I can't help it. Thanks!
Tuesday, 12 April 2016
Most writers and speakers commit this blunder, too often!
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
"The man was shot on the leg because he refused to cooperate with a policeman who demanded for bribe." That is what I just read, and what do you see wrong about that? Two major blunders, of course!
1. You don't shoot "on" the leg; rather, you shoot IN....
2. You don't "demand for", you simply "demand". Then, the expression should have been: "The man was shot IN the leg because he refused to cooperate with a policeman who demanded bribe."
Kindly note!
"The man was shot on the leg because he refused to cooperate with a policeman who demanded for bribe." That is what I just read, and what do you see wrong about that? Two major blunders, of course!
1. You don't shoot "on" the leg; rather, you shoot IN....
2. You don't "demand for", you simply "demand". Then, the expression should have been: "The man was shot IN the leg because he refused to cooperate with a policeman who demanded bribe."
Kindly note!
Monday, 11 April 2016
Saying "brethren"
Monday, April 11, 2016
May I bring to your notice that the word "brethren" is plural, lest you continue to think it is singular, and saying "brethrens" as its plural. This implies that a single person cannot be called "brethren", just like "brethren" doesn't exist as plural. NB: Every time you say "brethren", a plural verb is used. e.g. The brethren are still expecting the pastor to arrive. I hope this is clear enough?
May I bring to your notice that the word "brethren" is plural, lest you continue to think it is singular, and saying "brethrens" as its plural. This implies that a single person cannot be called "brethren", just like "brethren" doesn't exist as plural. NB: Every time you say "brethren", a plural verb is used. e.g. The brethren are still expecting the pastor to arrive. I hope this is clear enough?
Sunday, 10 April 2016
When you use "every"...
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Hear this: "I am a winner over every sicknesses and diseases." CAUTION: If you have to make such a positive confession, you just must know that "every" is a singular pronoun/article which must, compulsorily, take on singular nouns or verbs, as the case may be. In this case, the expression should be: "I am an winner over every sickness and disease" (not "...every sicknesses and diseases"). Is that clear?
Hear this: "I am a winner over every sicknesses and diseases." CAUTION: If you have to make such a positive confession, you just must know that "every" is a singular pronoun/article which must, compulsorily, take on singular nouns or verbs, as the case may be. In this case, the expression should be: "I am an winner over every sickness and disease" (not "...every sicknesses and diseases"). Is that clear?
This could make you laugh!
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Are you among those that say "in case of incasity"? Well, I am yet to know where that language abuse is from. Not Nigerian Pidgin English, this time, I mean some claim to speak English and use that. There is nothing like that in English, please!
Are you among those that say "in case of incasity"? Well, I am yet to know where that language abuse is from. Not Nigerian Pidgin English, this time, I mean some claim to speak English and use that. There is nothing like that in English, please!
Friday, 8 April 2016
Correct usage of the word "late"
Friday, April 8, 2016
I wish to bring it to your notice that the adjective "late" (meaning 'the state of being dead') can only be used in the attributive sense and never in the predicative sense. Let me try to make this simpler for your understanding. All adjectives are like that. i.e. Used either attributively or predicatively. This means that some adjectives can come before nouns while others only come at the end of the sentence, without preceding nouns. For "late", you can never say something like "Ademuyiwa Osinuga is late". You can only have "late" coming before a noun. e.g. The late Ademuyiwa Osinuga has been buried. I hope you get?
I wish to bring it to your notice that the adjective "late" (meaning 'the state of being dead') can only be used in the attributive sense and never in the predicative sense. Let me try to make this simpler for your understanding. All adjectives are like that. i.e. Used either attributively or predicatively. This means that some adjectives can come before nouns while others only come at the end of the sentence, without preceding nouns. For "late", you can never say something like "Ademuyiwa Osinuga is late". You can only have "late" coming before a noun. e.g. The late Ademuyiwa Osinuga has been buried. I hope you get?
Thursday, 7 April 2016
I need you to mind this!
Thursday, April 7, 2016
The next time you are on a phone call and I hear you say: "Hello, hello...sorry, I'm not hearing you", I may have to pull your ears and say, "Common, it's 'I can't hear you'". Isn't that a common blunder? Also, say "I can see you", not "I am seeing you". Is that clear?
The next time you are on a phone call and I hear you say: "Hello, hello...sorry, I'm not hearing you", I may have to pull your ears and say, "Common, it's 'I can't hear you'". Isn't that a common blunder? Also, say "I can see you", not "I am seeing you". Is that clear?
Wednesday, 6 April 2016
See "sit" versus "seat"
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
See "sit" and "seat". I have observed that we often use them interchangeably. CAUTION: The word "sit" is a verb while "seat" is a noun. i.e. You sit on a seat. Note the following: You don't seat on a sit. You don't seat on a seat". You don't sit on a sit. May I repeat: You sit on a seat. NB: Anyway, there is a verb form of "seat" meaning "to show a seat or assign a seat for". e.g. The ushers seated me close to the celebrant. Avoid committing a common blunder, please.
See "sit" and "seat". I have observed that we often use them interchangeably. CAUTION: The word "sit" is a verb while "seat" is a noun. i.e. You sit on a seat. Note the following: You don't seat on a sit. You don't seat on a seat". You don't sit on a sit. May I repeat: You sit on a seat. NB: Anyway, there is a verb form of "seat" meaning "to show a seat or assign a seat for". e.g. The ushers seated me close to the celebrant. Avoid committing a common blunder, please.
"swim/swam/swum"
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Consider this expression: "I have swum and I don't need to go to the bathroom again." Many are likely not to understand that "swum" is the past participle form of "swim". See "swim/swam/swum". Let me exemplify the three forms. I swim always I swam yesterday. I have swum. CAUTION: Never say "swam" when you should say "swum", or the other way round. I hope this is clear enough?
Consider this expression: "I have swum and I don't need to go to the bathroom again." Many are likely not to understand that "swum" is the past participle form of "swim". See "swim/swam/swum". Let me exemplify the three forms. I swim always I swam yesterday. I have swum. CAUTION: Never say "swam" when you should say "swum", or the other way round. I hope this is clear enough?
"there" versus "their"; "this" versus "these"
Monday, April 4, 2016
You don't say "there" when you mean to say "their". Sorry, these are two different words that mean differently. e.g. There is a reason for everything (not "their"). *Their reason for doing it was to make her feel bad (not "there"). I need tell you that both are pronouns that people often use interchangeably; whereas, they are not the same. Similarly, "this" is different for "these". The first is singular and the second is "plural". e.g. This is a spoon (not "these"). These are spoons (not "this"). Kindly note!
You don't say "there" when you mean to say "their". Sorry, these are two different words that mean differently. e.g. There is a reason for everything (not "their"). *Their reason for doing it was to make her feel bad (not "there"). I need tell you that both are pronouns that people often use interchangeably; whereas, they are not the same. Similarly, "this" is different for "these". The first is singular and the second is "plural". e.g. This is a spoon (not "these"). These are spoons (not "this"). Kindly note!
What do you think of this?
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Do you use article "a" or "an" with the word "handkerchief"? I mean is it "a handkerchief" or "an handkerchief"? Sorry, it's 'a'. CAUTION: The initial sound in that word is /h/, not /a/. Most people can't differentiate between these two sounds. Caution, please!
Do you use article "a" or "an" with the word "handkerchief"? I mean is it "a handkerchief" or "an handkerchief"? Sorry, it's 'a'. CAUTION: The initial sound in that word is /h/, not /a/. Most people can't differentiate between these two sounds. Caution, please!
AmE versus BrE
Saturday, April 2, 2016
When you see the words "offense", "defense", just know that they are American forms. Standard British English (SBE) adopts 'c', instead of 's', for those words. Say "offence", defence". These are SBE forms and I encourage you to insist on them. Thanks!
When you see the words "offense", "defense", just know that they are American forms. Standard British English (SBE) adopts 'c', instead of 's', for those words. Say "offence", defence". These are SBE forms and I encourage you to insist on them. Thanks!
Saturday, 2 April 2016
See this and adjust!
Saturday, April 1, 2016
"Off your clothes" That's what I heard from someone. Sorry, it's "put off" or "switch off". CAUTION The word "off" doesn't exist as a verb, and that has been too much of an abuse from most people. Kindly note!
"Off your clothes" That's what I heard from someone. Sorry, it's "put off" or "switch off". CAUTION The word "off" doesn't exist as a verb, and that has been too much of an abuse from most people. Kindly note!
Friday, 1 April 2016
A whole lot to learn from this word!
Thursday, March 31, 2016
See the word "alma mater". I need to let you that: 1. the spelling is what most people sometimes miss. 2. it is not written together. It is alma(space)mater. NB: It means the primary/secondary school, college or university that you went to. e.g. He has pledged a N5million donation to his alma mater. Kindly digest!
See the word "alma mater". I need to let you that: 1. the spelling is what most people sometimes miss. 2. it is not written together. It is alma(space)mater. NB: It means the primary/secondary school, college or university that you went to. e.g. He has pledged a N5million donation to his alma mater. Kindly digest!
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