Face, Not Tribal, Marks
THISDAY Front Page of April 29 welcomes us today: “Beaming with smiles and….” Yank off ‘with smiles’ which is encompassed in ‘beaming’. “…leaving devastations in (on) their trail” “PDP, APC trade blames over insecurity in Akwa Ibom” (DAILY SUN Headline, April 21) ‘Blame’ is uncountable. “The Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh (OFR) and The (sic) Minister of State, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (another comma) wish to invite all state Commissioners of (for) Agriculture….” (Full-page public announcement by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and rural Development, signed by Dr. Bukar Hassan, Permanent Secretary)
“Moses moves Chelsea to Promise (Promised) Land” (Sporting Sun Front Page Bold Headline, May 1)
“Students leaving with their luggages after the bomb attack.” Get it right: ‘Luggage’ is non-count.
“Can the CBN defend the naira” Economic renaissance: this headline needs a question mark.
“15 passengers drown as vehicle plunges into river” The victims could not have drowned inside the bush! Therefore, delete ‘into river’
“Aside the need to breath (breathe) fresh life into the brands, Guinness had competitions in (on) all fronts to contend with.”
“Rivers: Developing economic potentials (potential or potentialities”
“Your eminence, as you mark your eight (eighth) anniversary on the throne….” “Lagosians raise alarm (the alarm)” “Imoke flags off 10th Carnival Calabar Dry Run” Instead of ‘flag off’, use ‘inaugurates’
“We also seize (take/use) this opportunity to congratulate you and your entire (all your) family for (on/upon) your humanitarian contributions….” Please note that ‘seize an opportunity’ is a piece of Americanism.
“Vandalisation, major threat to regular power supply” Vandalism of the English language must stop!
“The recent Presidential approval for Grass Root (sic) Sports Development in….” (Full-page advertisement by National Lottery Trust Fund) This way: grassroots sp orts….
“…and the police has (have) no right to abridge them.”
“As law abiding citizens the campaigners did the right thing….” A rewrite: As lawabiding citizens, the campaigners did…. (Take note of the hyphen and comma).
“Unfortunately (a comma) the heart rendering (heart-rending) plight of the over 200 students of the Government Secondary School, Chibok….”
“,,,he speaks on the opportunities inherent in mobile apps and how start-ups can harness same (the same).”
“American mid term (mid-term) elections: Democrats eat (bite the) dust” “Rivers PDP at a crossroad” Politics: at a/the crossroads
“He achieved this fit (feat) by always striving for excellence.” “Leke, Akeem root for Eagles call up” Sports: Eagles’ call-up
“Cycling Federation thumbs-up (thumbs up)….”
“41 insurgents killed, as troops (troops’) deployment continues”
“Seventy-six years in the life of a man is a major milestone especially for one who has left indelible records in (on) the political landscape of our great country.” (Full-page advertorial by Orlu Zonal Political Leaders Forum signed by HE (sic) Chief Achike Udenwa (Leader) and Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu, Secretary) Yank off ‘major’. And this: Leaders’ Forum
“Estranged first wife escapes death by the whiskers” Top stories: by a whisker
“Uyo bubbles as Jonathan commissions (inaugurates) Akwa Ibom Stadium”
“Eagles battle ready (battle-ready) for Ghana”
“Empowering women to achieve their potentials” Already treated!
The following three blunders are from a full-page advertisement by the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State: “The Niger Delta University invites applications from suitable (suitably) qualified candidates for the following vacant posts….” “A Good University Degree (unnecessary capitalization) preferable (preferably) masters in a relevant….” This aptly explains why our educational standard is not just falling, but has collapsed almost irretrievably! FEEDBACK “APC gives quit notice (the notice to quit) to PDP” (AJAYI LAWRENCE, 08054674477)
WHO or whom? “Who is fooling who” is correct while who is fooling whom is incorrect. Fowler’s usage bible (A Dictionary of Modern English Usage) has taken a stand. ‘Whom’ has been declared an obsolescent word (going gradually out of usage) except in dative case: by whom/for whom/to whom/through whom/with whom etc. Note well: who is who in Nigeria. Who is who in Africa, etc. Keep it up.
TRIBAL marks or face marks? Last week, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo gleefully and humorously told the media that he had three identity cards: his international passport, national identity card and his ‘owu’ “tribal” (face) marks. He was obviously misled by NIMC’s National Identification Enrolment form which asks for your physical features that include height, gender, hair colour, tribal marks (instead of face marks). Simply put, these NIMC officials are language barbarians! (The last intervention by Baba BAYO OGUNTUNASE, a renowned language activist, shortly before his demise last weekend…may his soul rest in peace)!
“THE party will continue to inspire confidence in all party faithfuls (faithful)” (Full-page advertorial by Cross River State PDP Stakeholders) The faithful (already plural) are believers in a particular religion, or loyal supporters of a political party. (STANLEY NDUAGU, 08062925996)
“MANY people who are soliciting for this consensus….” ‘For’ is needless. (SUNDAY ADESINA ROYALSON, Abuja, 08065615799),
“Then, the shoes were parked with cotton wool or paper.…” There is a difference between ‘pack’ and ‘park’.
“For a man who took the gospel of exclusive breast-feeding to grassroot (grassroots) level.…”