EBERE WABARA

ewabara@

Armed bandit Last week Monday Monday, last week On/off the generator Put on/off the generator They love themselves They love each other Very best Clog in the wheel Cog in the wheel Tale of woes Tale of woe By the whiskers By a whisker Neck-to-neck battle Neck-and-neck battle Stand under the sun Stand in the sun Invitees Guests Witch-hunting Witch-hunt Present status quo Status quo Apersonnel Employee/worker/staff member Meddle into Meddle in/with Bad precedence Bad precedent Decampee Defector Take someone serious Take someone seriously Lion share Lion’s share Dispose off Dispose of At the corridors of power In the corridors of power Fire outbreak Fire Good riddance to bad rubbish Good riddance Many cooks spoil the soup Many cooks spoil the broth Money is the root of all evils The love of money is the root of all evils Bite more than you can chew Bite off more than you can chew Times like thisAtime like this/Times like these Aforce to reckon with Aforce to be reckoned with Beer parlour (Nigerian English)Pub/public house/inn/bar (lounge or saloon)/hotel/ tavern

Aposer: why are these errors egregiously or routinely committed? Is it a function of ignorance, carelessness or sheer blatant mistakes? Could it be tactlessness arising from slothfulness? Should it all be attributed to the evolution of what has come to be known as “Nigerian English”? Who will graciously elucidate on these growing grammatical challenges? I am at my wit’s end! Bandit Last Monday or Best