GTBank, Lagos State Slip
THISDAY of February 18 welcomes us today with GTBank full-page advertisement slip: “GTBank-Lagos State Principals Cup 2017” Playing by the rules: Principal’s Cup 2017 “London Police launches (launch) criminal investigation into…” Police: always plural verb “…courage and vision to make a difference in (on) our political landscape.” “Peugeot models poise (poised) for 2017” The next blunder is from a full-page congratulatory advertorial signed by the PDP Caucus (House of Representatives): “This has informed the numerous recognitions and honours conferred on you in recent times.” A rewrite: This has informed the recognition and honours conferred on you in recent times. ‘Recognition’ is uncountable.
“I pray for God (God’s) continued guidance….”
Yet more full-page advertorial improprieties: “Your investiture today, as The Sun Man of the Year 2016, is a glowing testament of (to) your unwavering devotion to the development of society….”
“We therefore join the good people of the State (needless capitalization) to celebrate you and wish you many more successes as you continue to redefine the character of Governance (otiose capitalization) with people-oriented projects.” Would they have been fish-oriented projects?
“Media tasked on balance (balanced) reporting”
DAILY SUN of February 13 takes over the baton from THISDAY: “Power generating (Power-generating) companies’ transactions hit N331bn in 2016”
“I and my family (My family and I) celebrate with our father in the Lord”
“…observers say (another comma) may be the final nail on the coffin of the party.” ( DAILY SUN Politics & Power, February 16) PDP crisis: the nail (no embellishment—the final nail—on the coffin of the party (the party’s coffin, preferably in the spirit of tight writing)
Did you know that ‘write me’ as contained on the front page of Saturday PUNCH of December 14 is American English, while the formal (standard) form is ‘write to me’?
“Round-the clock news from around the world” (StarTimes Full-page advertisement from the above medium) Adjectival entry: Round-the-clock news
National Mirror of December 19 contained an avalanche of mistakes starting from the following watery headline to its Views and Editorial Pages and other equally wobbly departments: “Ajimobi commissions (auspicates, inaugurates, opens, establishes, launches, initiates, unveils…) Asejire water plant, 17 years after” The verbal context of ‘commission’ here is utterly wrong and shows a poverty of vocabulary. I do not understand why journalists keep fumbling ridiculously and lousily with this word every day despite innumerable corrections here! This is sheer misrepresentation of the 65-year-old diligent and pacesetting Oyo State Governor, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi.
“Katsina PDP: Why late (the late) President Yar’Adua’s close associates are defecting to APC”
“It is in the interest of the nation (Nigeria is a country—not a nation, by the way) that the press should at all time (times) expose corrupt officers….”
“…to the consternation of majority (a majority) of the citizens who look up to such businesses to serve public needs.”
“Administrator advocates more scholarships for indigents” When did ‘indigent’, an adjective, become a noun?”
“People who cannot read or write and who have never seen the four walls of a secondary school….” Education Today: the walls (not four walls)!
Lastly from NATIONAL MIRROR Back Page Banner of December 19: “Right sizing the civil service: A more realistic approach” No lexical asunder: rightsizing
DAILY SUN of December 11 fumbled twice: “These big masquerades (masqueraders) entered the world and destroyed sacred….” Masqueraders wear masquerades, masks, etc.
“Man remanded over (for) alleged killing of wife”
THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAGAZINE of December 8 disseminated just two solecisms: “…in this piece pays tribute to one of Africa’s notable poet (poets) as he enters the winter of life.”
“Small business start ups tips” Get it right: start-up tips
“Its (It’s) been 7 years since you left us but memories of you lingers (linger) in our hearts.” (Full-page advertisement, The PUNCH, December 6))
“Congratulations…for (on/upon) participating in the National Growth Challenge September to December 2013…sponsored by Unilever”
DAILY SUN of December 4 comes next: “Borno reviews 24hrs (sic) curfew” and “Igbo community in Kano elects new officers” This way: 24-hour curfew/24 hours’ curfew. The community elected officials (not the otiose ‘new’)—if they were old officials, you re-elect!
“Japanese diplomat arrested over (for/in connection with) fire at DRC embassy”
“Torching (Touching) lives of orphans through sports”
“Campaigners accuse Shell over (of) weapons”
“Aregbesola, Tinubu, Oritsejafor pay last respect (respects) to Obadare”
“FG hands tanker drivers 48hrs (48 hrs’) ultimatum to relocate from MMIA” By the way, what difference would it have made spelling out ‘hours’?
“In its stead comes a mind-blowing display of opulence that has suddenly taken a firm root among the elite and nouveau riche….” Singular: nouveau riche; plural: nouveaux riches
“Before now, weather forecasts from NIMET were never taken serious (seriously) because….”
“As part of the build up (build-up) to the event….”
“At least one person was feared killed on Thursday morning when a 12-man armed bandits (12-man gang of bandits) struck at….” ‘Banditry’ involves the deployment of a measure of violence with sharp objects/instruments/weaponry during robbery. So, ‘armed