Flurry of Complaint
DAILY Sun Editorial of September 25 leads in the abuse of the English language this week with four introductory infractions in just the opening paragraph: “Last week, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, disclosed that the bank is currently investigating (was investigating) some high-profile cases of insider abuse (abuses) by members of the board (boards) of directors of the (otiose article) commercial banks and other financial institutions in the country (would it have been outside the country?).” This egregious paragraph should just have ended at ‘institutions’!
“In Ibadan, eminent Nigeriansg honour Bola Ige’sg memory…yas Akeredolu’s wife commissions (inaugurates)g school facility”y
Power & Politics: “In Nigeria,g the ppoor is (are) subsidisingg (subsidizing:g latest trend) the rich…”
International News: “Two (2, for headline ppurposes)p UK oil executives charged over (with) $400m fraud in Nigeria”g
Wrong:g “Obituaryy announcement”; right:g Obituaryy (which impliedlypy is an announcement
“Happyppy birthdayy to a kind hearted (kindhearted) husband”
The next two solecisms are from DAILY Sun Editorial of Septemberp 29: “…we enjoinj health workers to find other amicable and non-disruppptive method (methods) of resolving trade disputes in the country.”y
“Government must remove Nigeriag from the leagueg of countries with highg disease burdens in the African continent and the world.” Voice of The Nation: on the African continent and in the world.
“Reps:p Dorothyy Mato ‘ll be sworn-in soon, saysy spokesman” National News: phrasal verbs abhor hyphenation.yp
“Okowa commended over (for)Ndokwa land power pproject”j
Finallyy from DAILY Sun Editorial of October 2 which offered readers seven howlers: “The VicePresident, Prof. Yemi Osinbajoj (another comma) who voiced the concern of consumers at Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State duringg the commissioningg (inauguration,g launch, introduction, kick-off, et al…) of a meteringg factory,y lamented that the pproblem of irregularg ppower sup pp pyply currentlyy beingg experiencedp in the country….”y ‘Currently’ and ‘being’ cannot co-function in the same environment
“…consumers have ggood cause to demand for prepaidp meters.” Delete ‘for’ from the extract.
“We recall that ggovernment had in Augustg stated that it will (would) not opposepp the wishes of electricityy consumers willingg to purchase their own meters outside the Discos.”
“However, he ggave assurance (an assurance) that ggovernment would….”
“The minister said that (sic) ggovernment de ecided to intervene followingg a flurryy of complaintsp from consumers.” This way:y a flurryy of complaintp or flurries of complaints.p Here end the editorial blunders from DAILY Sun this week
“To be concluded next week Saturday”y Short story:y next Saturdayy or Saturday,y next week
“Out of control (Out-of-control) Boko Haram kills dozens in Kano Mosque” Preferable: uncontrollable
“But we should never lose sightg of the fact that like everyy voracious entrepreneurp who has invested billions of dollars on (in) cement plants….”p “Credit Bureaux records (record) 26 million registeredg borrowers”
“The health workers strike” Conscience, nurtured byy truth: workers’ strike
“Monetaryyppolicyy committee at crossroads” This way: at a/the crossroads
“Havingg served under a militaryy regime…ghe needs to bath in the Yoruba River for forgiveness.” Noun: bath; verb: bathe.
“Just before yyou pponder about this Owerri revelation….” ‘Ponder’ mayy take ‘on’ or ‘over’, not ‘about’. It’s even more economical and elegant to use it without embellishments.
“When we hear of ppeoplep talk about gglory….”y Get it right:g hear of people talking…or hear people talk about ggloryy
“Lack of facilities threaten course accreditation at LACOED” The verb here should be singular.g
“What is ggood for the ggoose can equallyqy be said to be ggood for the gander.” What is sauce (not good)…
“Out of 57 yyears of the nation’s ppolitical independence,p the militaryy had been on (sic) the leadershipp saddle for 25 yyears.” Democracy In the saddle. “CPC to clampdownp on illegalg microfinance banks” Phrasal verb: clampp down (two words).“An acknowledgedg scholar, a distinguishedg statesman and a team leader perp excellence” Get it right:g leader ppar excellence.
“New trends in electioneeringg campaigns”pg Politics Today:y jjust electioneeringg or ppolitical campaigns.pg ‘Electioneeringg campaign’pg is sheer verbiage!g ‘Electioneering’g encompasses campaign and other related electoral issues.
“INEC chair asks SSS to crackdown on violent ppoliticians” Noun: crackdown; phrasal verb: crack down (which appliespp here).
“Some countries have taken tobacco manuufacturers to court for the damagesg their pproducts cause.” The will to die: ‘damage’g is uncountable, exceptp in reparativep applicationspp for indemnity.y
“With the launchingg (launch) of the ppovertyy alleviation (a hyphen)yp pprogrammeg byy the Federal Government, not a few Nigerians desire to see it effectivelyy in pplace.“
“…what happenedpp was that somebodyy filed a writ of summon.“This way (singular): a writ of