EBERE WABARA

ment.…” Sustainable democracy: at a/the crossroads. This is lexical recession!

“The other problem of inter- and intra-communal feuds continue (continues) unabated….” Not proximity yet.

“…especially as it has defiled (defied) all solutions by experts in the area of waste management….”

“Sadly, these have culminated into (in) communal clashes….”

“…in line with ourAfrican view of being our brothers’ keepers.” Fixed expression: brother’s keeper (irrespective of plurality)

“As a youth corp (corps) member in Kano in 1974/75, I do understand….”

“Buhari to re-open talks with Niger Delta leaders” ‘Reopen’ does not admit hyphenation. “Sheath Your Sword” Spell-check: sheathe. “If the recent discovery of the bodies of policemen and soldiers in the bush are (is) a measure of….”

“Stocks shake-off recession challenges, remain active” Phrasal verbs abhor hyphenation.

“What happens to genetically-modified seeds that make agricultural produces grow….” An unfinished agendum: ‘produce’ is non-count.

“Journalists attached toAbuja may eventually return home to their families with their properties (property)....”

“Military personnel are said to outdo themselves (one another).…”

“Excuse me if I am trivializing, via humour, an otherwise griefing matter.” This is scandalous! Noun: grief and verb: grieve. So, grievous (adjective, which is the right application here) matter.

“Thank God I didn’t doff my hat for (to) someone who does not even merit a clap.”Another variant: take off one’s hat to….

“He killed an Egyptian and an Hebrew” Lectern thoughts: a Hebrew (which is New English).

FEEDBACK

DEAR Ebere, do not let the incorrigible nature of colleagues of yours discourage you. It is disheartening that a number of errors you painstakingly correct on a weekly basis are still made by them repeatedly. They have defiantly remained incorrigible. THISDAY of Saturday, September 17 (page 43) made the following gaffe: ‘The beverage industry which is gradually warming (worming) its way back into the hearts of consumers....’The phrasal verb ‘worm your way into something’, though disapproving, means ‘to make somebody like you or trust you in order to gain some advantage for yourself. In this context, the verb ‘worm’is needed, not ‘warm’.

(Dr Stanley Nduagu/08062925996).