In A Shambles
THISDAY Front Page of February 27 contained two blunders: “…they also have reason to mourn a sad news that filtered in from the Supreme Court.” ‘News’ is uncountable. So, mourn sad news that…. “He also said the first five counts against Ezeugo was (were) for attempted murder which carried a penalty of 20 years (years’) imprisonment….”
“But we must join hands together to fight this corruption in Nigeria because….” Do we join hands separately? ‘Join together’ is Abrahamic English conservatively explicated in the Bible!
“For me, what is happening now in a few years (years’) time every one (everyone) will be thanking God for this President.”
“Life returning back to parts of Borno State as security stabilises” Yank off ‘back’, which is implied in ‘returning’ to avoid padding.
“Air Force bursts job recruitment (jobrecruitment) syndicate”
“NDLEA seize (seizes) N5m cannabis in Kogi”
Still on THISDAY under reference: “How does he convince Rivers people that the insecurity that stares them on (in) the face daily is a choice they made?”
“The payment process, she said, has (had) been automated for the convenience of pensioners.”
“…asks if Emenike can catch (cash) in on his loan spell….”
“After two weeks (weeks’) break due to the English FA Cup….”
“NFF reappoints Siasia as Eagles (Eagles’) coach”
“Fire guts late (the late) Audu’s office complex, vehicles destroyed”
From City News of February 29 comes the next goof: “Why I threw seven-year-old boy in (into) septic tank”
“We’ll commission (inaugurate) new facility next month”
“…was a giant Iroko in the forest of contemporary African and Nigerian art.” There is no lilliputian Iroko! Therefore, the amplification is unnecessary. The man was an Iroko…conveys the same message.
“It is even more worrisome that while the economy is already in shambles (a shambles) and insecurity pervades the land….”
NATIONAL MIRROR of March 3 offered readers improprieties right from its front page: “National Assembly, NASS, yesterday said it has (had) scheduled March 17 to pass the Appropriation Bill of N6.08 trillion.”
“Bello assures on resolving Kogi, Anambra oil dispute” Who did he assure?
The Guardian on Saturday of March 5 nurtured two infelicities: “Southeast bound (Southeast-bound) passengers stranded at Lagos Airport”
“JTF says Kano not under any threat, as it deploys armoured vehicles on (to) major streets”
NATIONAL MIRROR of March 7 contributed the next six infelicities: “Facilities at AOCOED excites (why?) NCCE team”
“I had it rough at (in) the beginning—Proprietress, Carol School”
“CAF mourns late Somalia FA boss” A rewrite: CAF mourns Somali FA boss. Do we mourn someone who is alive?
“CSR: Between philantropy and palliatives” Brands and marketing: philanthropy”
“...Toure’s kids’ gloves treatment of the Tuareg rebels (rebels’) insurgence as its main reason to....” All the facts, all the sides: kid gloves
THE NATION ON SUNDAY of March 6 contained a catalogue of solecisms: “Woman arrested for killing mum” It is obvious that the sub-editor who treated this story has never heard of ‘matricide’! So, woman arrested for matricide.
“The elevation of some police officers and retirement of 13 Assistant Inspectors General has (have) led to some bad blood (delete the word preceding bad blood) in the force....” Elevation and retirement are distinct milestones that cannot be collapsed into singularity!
“When Hafeez Ringim, then an Assistant Inspector General (a comma) was elevated to the rank of Inspector General (another comma) all his seniors (DIGs) had to retire.” No truth: they were retired to pave way for the Ringim ultimate disaster!
“Your ability to work out (answer/do) knotty political puzzles...makes you”
“...so he could not have seen fire and tell (told) me to put my hand.” Alternatively, he cannot see fire and tell me to put my hand.
“...the APGA governorship candidate in Abia State at (in) the April 2015 elections....”
“Why change your wardrobe every five minutes while all it takes is a different accessories.” All it takes are different accessories.
“Singapore jails senior civil servants over (for) corruption”
“ANA postponements (sic) (postpones) February reading”
“Peugeot plans to inject $7.26b on (into) research, development”
“South African Airways celebrates 80 years (years’ or 80th year) anniversary”
“LASU Management re-opens (reopens) the university”
“You lived well and you have gone to (preferably for) a well deserved (welldeserved) rest. Rest in perfect peace.” (Full-page advertorial) Except for graveyard peace, ‘peace’ is an absolute and does not need inflection, intensification or adumbration. So, rest in peace (R.I.P—not R.I.P.P)!
Finally from the Back Page of THE GUARDIAN under review: “One has witnessed at different occasions dissenting opinions of doctors as regards prescriptions for patient’s (a patient’s) ailment.” The Guardian youth speak: on different occasions.
Next is DAILY TRUST of February 2: “Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar spoke at his palace in Sokoto….” Does the Sultan of Sokoto have another palace elsewhere? Let us think as we report.
“Heritage Bank plans listing in (on) capital market”
“Pact with China conducive for peace, says Taiwan (Taiwan’s or Taiwanese) president”
“Otherwise, there is no point we engage in importing that much on yearly (a yearly) basis.”
“…he said though the institute has (had) developed 62 rice varieties for farmers, five most prominent varieties are (were) in circulation and are (were) doing very good (well).”
“NEMA, stakeholders meets over displaced persons” You can readily identify the boyish slip-up.
“With the LG polls now fixed for next week Tuesday….” Either next Tuesday or Tuesday, next week