![]() ![]() “Self-styled armies sprung (have sprung) here and there …” “…the reduction in the number of vehicle accidents and casualities (casualties).” “Meanwhile, no one can convince me that we are getting returns of any kind from either of these two countries.…” Stock phrase: either of these countries “So the government cannot ask the Supreme Court to interprete the law.” Spell-check, always: interpret. “So these are the kind of things that create jobs but they take time to take off fully.” Either: this is the kind of thing or these are the kinds of things. “Like (As) we have said at various fora….” “…had said that DAILY SUN is (was) a credible publication, one not likely to misquote him or twist what he says in a free display of editorial freedom.” “Rohr gets sweeping power” Get it right: sweeping powers. “Clearance of non-CRI goods begin (begins) at ports” “VC accuses lecturers of double standards” (National News Headline, June 2) There is no periphery of options here: double standard (fixed expression). “It now takes residents leaving (living) towards the bus stop….” (THE GUARDIAN, June 4) “Efforts so far to speak with the Kogi State Police Public Relation (sic) Officer has (have) proved abortive (now a cliché!)” (SATURDAY TRIBUNE, July 27) “Nigerian seamstress per excellence for Dubai fashion show” (Saturday Mirror Headline, June 4) Just seamstress par (not per) excellence. “Rooney’s wife looses temper after Twitter user comment” (SATURDAY INDEPENDENT, July 27) In doing this weekly critique, I cannot lose my temper. “Combatants mend fence” (Source: as above) This way: mend fences. “Nollywood pays last respect for (to)…” (National News Headline, June 4) There is no absolute individuality in orthography and other aspects of the English language: last respects. “Creating a smoke free environment” (THE NATION ON SUNDAY Headline, July 7) Even my racy platform of expression: smoke-free environment! Don’t you appreciate the classicality (and, of course, correctness) of the hyphenation? ![]() “As human beings, we are the highest evolved specie.” (FRSC Road Safety Tip, THISDAY, June 8) For the Corp Marshal’s attention: species. “Buhari: Four years on the saddle” Again: in the saddle. The next two headline flaws confirmed this infallible position: “Banks lay siege on lawmakers” A rewrite: Banks lay siege to lawmakers. Lest I am accused of being repetitive in this column, as long as systemic infelicities in multifarious collocations keep recurring, there would be no hesitancy in highlighting them repeatedly until scholarly exactitude takes place. “Who says Nigeria is too tough to govern” Who pocketed the question mark? “The introduction of five new housemates seem (seems) to have taken from the usual eviction jitters and thus reenergized the….” (Source: as above) “I was harassed by film producers at onset (outset)” (THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER, August 3) “ANWBN senitises women on (to) business challenges, potential” T HE BUSINESS REPORT of August 5 welcomes us today with two headline faults: “Labour says breach of agreements cause (causes) workplace conflicts” ![]()
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