Marching Orders, Not Order
“OSINBAJO issues marching order to cement producers” Truth and Reason: marching orders. “LASAA’s double standards” (DAILY INDEPENDENT Headline, May 16) Fixed expression: double standard. “This is crucial because our steps have been faulty from the onset (outset).”
The next four blunders are from SATURDAY TRIBUNE of July 1: “…the noise pollution that accompany (accompanies) the use and subsequent rise in the level of stress.”
“I am usually on (in) my farm and I don’t think you….”
“He spoke on Supersports about his achievements and experiences on the saddle of CAF Champions League second round….” SATURDAY Sports: in the saddle.
“Bill Gates: The billionaire with unparallel love for the less privileged” Exceptional philanthropy: unparalleled love.
“UNIBEN alumni commends INEC” UNIBEN alumni commend, but UNIBEN Alumni Association commends. No muddle.
“Sometimes (Sometime) ago, twenty-three wise men met at….”
“As police beams (beam) searchlight on some formal groups, associations and organizations.”
“In his sermon at the occasion.…” Get it right: on the occasion.
“In 1996, ASUU, apart from demanding for the review…” Military and varsity education: delete ‘for’ in the interest of grammatical sanity.
“The Yorubas like I said on this platform last Friday.…” This way: The Yoruba, as (not like) I said, on this platform last Friday….
“…the good foundation laid for take-off and hopefully with what we have (had) read and saw (seen) in the media….”
“He sacked the Shonekan administration and assumed the reign of power as Head of State.” Get it right: reins of government.
“They like parading themselves in state-of-theart cars, leaving (living) in mansions and dictating the economy (how?) of the country with their loots (loot).” Do we resort to vernacular in the light of the foregoing morphological tragedies?
“Thrown into panic, the driver of my vehicle managed to find a save (safe) haven from the portion of the road lawfully meant for Abujabound motorist (motorists).”
“…talkless of (let alone) those actually chased into them by the escorts of the ‘big’ men.”
The next outrageous error is from Vanguard of May 19: “We urge that investigations be launched into the circumstances that led to the embarrassment and ask that those involved be brought to book to forestall a re-occurrence.” Let us foreclose a recurrence of ‘Eze-Goes-to-School’ blunders.
“The Real Madrid coach got the marching order on the 44th minute into the crucial competition.…” Once more: marching orders.
“The last but not the least is….” An extra: the last but not least. That is the correct expression.
“She is an alumnus of the popular….” Standard style: alumna.
The next six blunders are from the sports pages of the Saturday Newspaper: “Flying Eagles (Eagles’) sloppy play bothered (bordered) on the fact that.…”
“I seized the opportunity (sic) to congratulate him for (on) the very great successes at the recent polls.…”
“…the smallish player was the life wire (sic) of the Flying Eagles….” Nigeria ’99: livewire.
“The screening of the prospective footballers continued with the captain playing the role of the ball boy, perhaps with the believe that.…” Change ‘believe’ to ‘belief’.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has joined the bandwagon of progress.” Progressive English: climb or jump (not join) on/aboard the bandwagon.
“Today, the Whiteman’s problem has been fully entrenched in the dark continent, especially south of the Sahara.” Standard expression: on the Dark Continent
“Abia police warns (warn) on tinted windscreen”
“3 state-own industries to begin production soon” This way: state-owned industries.
“Drivers of luxurious (luxury) busses are not so often stopped or extorted.”
“Such accusation (an accusation) leveled on (against/at) the FRSC is, however, an exception rather than the rule.”
“…the commission was poised to enforce all road violations.” This is sheer linguistic monstrosity! Perhaps, it is only in Nigeria–where anything is plausible – that violations (instead of laws and regulations) could be enforced.
“Adebanjo had been involved in a ghastly motor accident that claimed the lives of over five people almost immediately along (on) the popular Ibadan-Lagos expressway.” When lives are lost in any vehicular mishap, it is a fatal (not ghastly) accident.
“Some few years later after I had almost forgotten about the Navy….” ‘Some’ and ‘few’ cannot co-function.
“So when this new uniform group was set up in 1988 by the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida administration, I have (had) no doubt in my mind (where else?) that this would certainly work because of the calibre of people behind it.”
“People in power in this country atimes amuse me by their thinking.” This way: at times.
“…disregard to traffic signs….“Disregard for/of…depending on context.
“…I always doff my hat for (to) the electoral commission.” Another entry: take off your hat…. “Let me advise a rethink into (on) matter.” “Let the police remain on its (their) own….” “…power surge had resulted into (in) sparks which had in turn resulted into (in) sparks which had in turn resulted into (in) fires with dire