PTA: Parent-Teacher Association
YOU are welcome to this first edition in the last month of the year: “…in their various constituencies to synthesize grassroot opinions on this all important (all-important) project.” Not my view: grassroots opinions…. “In many respect (respects) it is out of tune with modern reality….” “Nigeria has never degenerated to (into) this level, security wise.”
“That is why the state governments need to be given the impetus to pool their wisdom and resources together….” Delete the last word in the extract.
“…the states and local governments sufficiently financially empowered to take care of its (their) responsibilities.” There should be a conjunction between ‘sufficiently’ and ‘financially’.
“The minister exposed the shock find during an official visit to PHCN’s facilities in (on) the premises of the….”
“…contributed to PHCN’s woeful (abysmal) failure to provide regular electricity supply to the nation….”
“The governor had, on Tuesday, drew (drawn) the ire of workers by arguing that….”
“…the federal government must embark on some cost saving (cost-saving) measures….”
“His arguments on the introduction of N5,000 notes was (were)….”
“FG to sanction DISCOs over overbilling of customers” A rewrite: “FG to sanction DISCOs for overbilling customers”
“Teachers employed by the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) to complement….”Education Today: Parent-Teacher Association (PTA),,,,
“CANNU donates to flood relief (floodrelief) fund”
“Eduwatch gathers students, scholars together” Yank off the last word in the excerpt.
“Geepee proudly introduces world class (world-class) multilayer (multi-layer) composite panels…no painting, no maintainance” Bloated pride: maintenance!
THE GUARDIAN of November 27 circulated two improprieties: “With preparations in top gear, and barring any last minute (last-minute) hitches….”
“The final death nail (sic) came with the present political dispensation that began in 2000 that paid lip-service to governance.” Get it right: death knell or just knell. There is nothing like ‘final death nail’!
DAILY Sun of November 29 contained copious indiscretions: “If the Abia PDP stalwarts have forgotten, we will gladly remind them that candidates who stand for elections under (on) the platform (platforms) of political parties….”
“Kaduna gears up for LG polls amidst (amid) fears of violence”
“Records show that their actions and inactions, in the past, have (had) contributed in….”
“Non-partisan intelligence driven mechanism panacea to Boko Haram” A rewrite: “Non-partisan, intelligence-driven mechanism, panacea to Boko Haram
“…the seeming connivance of the judiciary with those intent in (on/upon) protecting the criminals in our midst.”
“The suspects are walking free in the society, enjoying their loots and attracting more political patronages.” ‘Loot’ is uncountable.
“…in the guise of delivering same (the same) as bribe to the Commission’s officers to ‘kill’ such cases under investigation.” ‘Same’, in formal—and even most informal—contexts, cannot stand alone.
“The highest value of university education is not just about imparting knowledge on (to) individuals….”
“Nigeria loses N533bn to sugar importation” A rewrite: Nigeria spends N533b on sugar import
“…which also congratulated the Sierra-Leonean people for (on/upon) the peaceful conduct of their election and pledged support for their democratic process….”
“The United Nations, which had borne much of the burden of restoring peace in (to) the country….”
“The re-elected president should eschew witch-hunting (witch-hunt) of the opposition….”
More mistakes from THE GUARDIAN of November 29: “They have proved themselves as medical professionals per (par) excellence.”
“…and stand a chance to win an all expense paid trip to South Africa.” At least two winners must emerge daily: an all-expenses-paid trip….
“For more details (a comma) go to…or call the Guinness toll free (toll-free) line on….”
“…the labour leaders have decided to bury their hatchets and come together again….” Fixed expression (irrespective of number): bury the hatchet.
“Remarkably (Remarkable) as well, (needless comma) was the huge success recorded of (in) this year’s Comptroller General’s Annual Conference just concluded in Kastina (sic).”
Finally from the Back Page of The Guardian under review: “Do we have to wait till someone effect (effects) a change?”
“Today, PMB sits on (in) the saddle of governance.”
“Israel moves to diffuse (defuse) tension with Egypt”
“The objective was attained quite alright.” ‘Alright’ is not all right in formal environments.
“The Zikists are his political offsprings and despite all the betrayals we have witnessed of recent….’ ‘Offspring’ is non-count.
“When the storm rages, men can do nothing about it, but when it has seized (ceased), its destruction could be addressed.”
“Students write exams half-naked.” It is a lie! They write exams half-dressed/ half-clad/half-clothed/half-covered or naked/bare to the waist.
“I stood up, took another naira note and put it near my half-empty (half-full) beer glass.”
“The classroom was filled to capacity (filled) as early as….”
“How did you fair (fare) in your examination?”
“The feeling is that many don’t want to be seen as taking a position which would be interpreted as confrontational and as such they have resulted (resorted) to lobbying….”
“Do not pass the bulk (buck) to anyone….”
“The CBN boss explained that it was not the first time that banks would be liquidated and that the history of bank failure in the country dated (dates) back to 1958 or 1959.” There is also ‘dates back from.’
FEEDBACK
YOUR persistent efforts to point out and correct the obvious omissions of colleagues of yours are appreciated by some and misconstrued by others.
Today, all caution seems to have been thrown to the winds, and the value of good writing, which should be the hallmark of every respectable newspaper, has become subordinate to the rush for exclusive and sensational stories which lack depth and quality.
This, however, is not to say that mistakes cannot be made in the course of producing a newspaper. But journalists will make fewer mistakes if they read illuminating columns like this and a few others elsewhere.
––( Kenneth Ugbechie, publisher, Nigeria Political Economist/08056801124 & 08034364524).