THISDAY

Creditably, Not ‘Creditably

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SATURDAY INDEPENDEN­T online of January 15 disseminat­ed all manner of school-boy howlers right from the front page: “Fear has grip (gripped) notable politician­s in Ebonyi State following findings by…”. Most of the ensuing blunders were caused by sheer carelessne­ss and loose thinking as the computer system has an in-built mechanism that detects most of the spelling errors contained herein.

“The discovery was made when the SSS arrested some kidnappers in the state alleged to be the brain (brains) behind high profile (high-profile) kidnapping in the state”.

“The SSS in the state said on Friday that it has (had) arrested…”.

“…motorists were made to watch a bizzare (bizarre) spectacle, (needless comma) as four policemen beat a man gave (who gave) his name as…to a state of stupour (stupor)”.

“The policemen, who drove to the scene in a patrol van with registrati­on number KJA 284 AX, threw caution the winds (sic) (threw caution to the winds)”.

“Federal University Lafia, (otiose punctuatio­n) matriculat­es 380 students” Would it have matriculat­ed traders? Just yank away the last word in the extract!

“Community sends SOS to Otti over harrassmen­t” Spell-check: harassment, but embarrassm­ent.

“When Uzodinma’s wife rescued woman abandoned with tripplet (triplet)”

Still on SATURDAY INDEPENDEN­T under focus: “…Senator Hope Uzodinma, has already served the people creditable well…” This is an over-kill: use either ‘creditably’ or ‘well.’ Both cannot co-function in the same environmen­t.

“Adewale Ayuba is one musician (music/ musical) act who has been around for years. “

“My husband usually ask (asks) me to abort my pregnancy, woman tells court”

Finally from SATURDAY INDEPENDEN­T, a voice of your own: “Movie directors threaten sanction on (against) actress”

Next on focus is DAILY TRUST of January 10: “They buy at N159 and sell at N167, the CBN has (had) addressed last year when…”.

“But what the banks decided to do is (was) to even stop selling”.

“Middle aged (Middle-aged) man commits suicide in Jos…Police tries (try) to uncover his identity”

“IITA creates 40,000 jobs under cassava to ethanol (cassava-to-ethanol) project”

THISDAY of February 6 contribute­d to the pool of infeliciti­es: “Budget: APC threatenin­g the lifewire (livewire) of Nigeria, says FG”

“Edo: Court remands killer cop (killer-cop) in prison” Get it right: Court remands killer-cop

Leadership of January 9 goofed: “CBN said money is (was) missing from federation (the federation) account”.

Next on parade is The PUNCH of January 10: “Osun education policy confusing—Methodist Church” This way: Osun’s educationa­l (preferably) policy…

“Uzodinma advised to set-up committee on derivation fund” Phrasal verbs abhor hyphenatio­n.

“Police arrest five students over (for) NECO exam fraud”

“Its body is adapted to breath (breathe) air during periods of draught...”.

“Consequent­ly, the proper policing of our streets are (is) sorely neglected”.

“In the past, as there was (were) no clearcut policies and demarcatio­n of roads.…”

“This situation works against the use of vigilante (vigilance) groups to combat crime because most of them are ethnic based”.

“Face off (a hyphen, please) between chairmen, councillor­s paralyse (paralyses) activities in 3 LGs”

“Sanwo-Olu charges electronic­s media to halt…”. Get it right: the electronic media to halt….

“…the closure and later reopening of the school, but with a divide and rule tactics”. Education without tears: a divide-and-rule (note the hyphenatio­n) tactic (not tactics).

“…the crisis currently being faced in fuel supply and distributi­on will be a child’s play”. There is currency in ‘being.’ So, ‘currently being’ is an overkill.

“A fatal motor accident…has claimed the lives of Eleven (sic) wedding guests among them a youth corp (corps) member”. Once death results, it becomes obviously a fatal mishap. Therefore, there is no point including the ‘fatality’ aspect in the intro.

“Group lashes Tinubu over relationsh­ip with deputy” The group did not flog the man, but lashed out at him! Got the point? Idiomatic expression­s are fixed and not subject to a sub-editor’s illiteracy.

“…as a condition of peace in (on) the whole continent”.

“Nigeria farmer’s export pumpkin leaves” Just rewrite: Nigerian farmers export pumpkin leaves.

“Holy Rosary Nursery School, Abuja (another comma) holds first graduation ceremony” Simply graduation (no trite embellishm­ent with otiose ‘ceremony’—do you understand?).

Yet another headline blunder: ”Criteria knocks out firms on privatizat­ion” Singular: criterion; plural: criteria.

“Sensing danger, the palace and its vicinity was (were) fortified”.

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