Education
“One of the purposes of education is to help a person to develop his natural talents to the fullest extent possible. No other means has been evolved to achieve the same goal. It goes without saying, therefore, that if a person with less natural endowment is educated, other things being equal, he will stand in an infinitely better position economically, politically and socially than another person with much greater natural talents, but without the opportunity for all in education automatically leads to a good deal of social distortions and waste. It also leads to gross inequality of incomes and political status,” so asserted Chief Obafemi Awolowo on education in 1976.
Bury life animals or bury live animals?
The duo (Wole Soyinka and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo) has said variously that religion as “practiced” (practised) in this country can be a cog in the wheel of progress.
Today, the population of Christians to “Moslems” (Muslims) are almost at par. We have heard in this country where pastors bury “life” (live) animals or dead humans in their worship place.
While some may act in good faith, may God forgive other who “habor” (harbour) other motives! – THE NATION COMMENTS page, January 19, 2017. Note on usage: I saw a live mouse in the kitchen (not “a life mouse”) yesterday.
Another note: “Muslim is preferred to “Moslem”.
Fallouts or fallout?
Mr. Jim Obazee has “learnt” (learned) a bitter lesson following his sack by the Federal Government over his zeal to enforce the Government Code of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) he presided over had generated .
Besides, a number of atrocities have been traced to wrangling in churches that government cannot pretend indifference since the “fallouts” (fallout) could imperil national security. – THE NATION EDITORIAL, January 15, 2017. Special notes on grammar and usage : In Editorial English, burned not burnt, learned not learnt, inquire not enquire, phoney not phony, spelled not spelt, spoiled not spoilt, while not whilst.
Electioneering campaign or electioneering?
The plan by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to introduce a form of social security targeted at the most vulnerable in the society generated controversy even during the “electioneering campaign” (electioneering or campaign). – THE NATION EDITORIAL, January 8, 2017. Note on usage: we correctly say or write “electioneering” or campaign (not “electioneering campaign,” which is tautology.
Between N70 billion to N100 billion or between N70 billion and N100 billion?
The plan to rehabilitate 50 bridges will start with the very critical ones, at a cost of “between N70 billion to N100 billion” (between N70bn and N100bn or from N70bn to N100bn) in one year, so that they do not collapse. – DAILY SUN EDITORIAL, January 12, 2017.
A lot of money or much money?
The last time, vehicle owner suffered untold inconveniences and paid “a lot of “(much/a great deal of) money to move over to the new vehicle registration regime. – DAILY SUN EDITORIAL, December 29, 2016. Special note on usage: “a lot of”, like “lots of”, has been declared obsolescent (i.e. going gradually out of use in the language). Use “many”, “a number of”, “a great number” for countable nouns and “much”, “a great deal of” for uncountable nouns.
Precedence or a precedent?
This kind of irresponsible “behavior” (behavior), justifies the call from Chief Emeka Anyaoku that these so-called states should be scrapped so that we can return to regional governments that served our people very well.
If we do not stop this practice in Ebonyi, it will create “precedence” (a precedent/a bad precedent) and every state, including the centre, will follow suit and begin to pay anybody who had previously held one kind of office or the other.
We learnt or we learned?
I am really sorry for this country because one wonders where we “learnt” (learned) this from.
Secondly or second?
“Secondly” (Second), Nigeria is not America. America is not Nigeria.
This action will be “outrightly” (outright) illegal and could constitute a threat to public order and security if the common people were to challenge the government for its insensitivity. – THE NATION COMMENTS Page, January 19, 2017. Notes on grammar and usage: “outright” is the form of both adjective and adverb (not “outrightly”). It is now first, second, third (not “firstly”, “secondly”, “thirdly”, which is 20th Century English). Please, read WEBSTER’S 21st CENTURY DICTIONARY of the English Language and 21ST CENTURY GRAMMAR HANDBOOK to keep abreast of the current tendencies and influences in the language.
American Vice President or U.S. Vice President?
The modesty, integrity, selfless service as well as the quality of leadership provided by Joe Biden, the outgoing “American” (United State/U.S.) Vice President, has been wildly celebrated by the social media in the last two weeks. – THE NATION COMMENTS Page, January 19, 2017. Special note on usage: officially, it is the President and Vice President of the United States (U.S.) Not “American President; not “American Vice President”!
The general elections or the general election?
The government’s primary obligation is to protect the “lives and property” (life and property or lives and properties) of the citizenry against any threat from any quarters.
Already, legislators at all tiers of government and members of the political class are grouping and re-grouping to form a mega party that will supplant the present administration in the general “elections” (election)scheduled for 2019. – THE NATION MAIN EDITORIAL, January 19, 2017. Special notes on grammar and usage: We correctly say or write, To protect life and property or lives and properties.
“General election” is a fixed term, not pluralised (not “general elections”).
Beddings or bedding?
The hospital, equipped with baby cribs, “beddings” (bedding), operating table, scale, wheel chairs, office furniture, stretcher, syringes, gloves, maternity equipment, drugs, accommodations for staff members, etc., is now covered by dust in sleepy Tugan Nasara town, just three kilometers outside Abuja.
The mother of or the daddy of?
This newspaper seizes the unfortunate situation created for residents of Tugan Nasara to remind the government of the imperative of proper coordination of policy making and implementation, SURE-P, the “mother” (daddy/grand-daddy) of the Tugan Nasara health facility, popped up over night without proper preparation for policy coordination in 2012 after reduction of fuel subsidy charges- THE NATION SECOND EDITORIAL, January 19, 2017. Notes on grammar and usage: “bedding” is an uncountable noun. It has no plural form.
“The daddy (or grand-daddy) of them all”, meaning “the best/largest example”, is an English idiom.
“The mother of all wars” was coined by the late Saddam Hussein.
Nigerian English (NE): Police is your friend (Ikeja Police).
British English (BE): The police are your friends.
America’s President or U.S. President?
With Donald John Trump so magnanimous or contrite, as some claim on his behalf, some wonder why Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, still went ahead with “Wolexit”, his personal vow to relocate to Nigeria should Trump be elected “America’s” (the United State of America’s) President. – THE PUNCH, December 14, 2016. Special notes on usage: The man (or woman) who occupies the White House is officially and formally addressed as Mr. President (or Madam President), President of the United States of America (not “American President”)!
To say the truth or tell the truth?
We do not pray for “things” (a thing) like this (Death in the Cathedral, in Uyo) but when “they happen” (it happens), we should have the courage to “say” (tell/speak) the truth in order to avoid a recurrence. –THE NATION COMMENTS page, December 15, 2016. Special notes on grammar and usage: We say our prayers. We do tell/speak the truth to power. We don’t somehow “say the truth”!
In a continent or on a continent?
The outcome of the election has further reinforced Ghana as an Oasis of calm “in” (on) a continent where a sprinkle of tyrants still holds way. –THE PUNCH EDITORIAL, December 14, 2016.
On the ground that or on the grounds that?
Justice Amina Augie said she should no longer sit on the panel hearing the Appeal numbers 10 and 11 field by Samson Ogah as well as the one by the People Democratic Party (PDP) on the “ground” (grounds) that there was a sentiment expressed by one of the parties in a previous sister case. –DAILY SUN, January 12, 2017. Special notes on usage: “on grounds of” like “on grounds that”, is a formal (fixed) idiom even if one ground is given, the “grounds” must be in plural form!
Learnt or learned?
In 2019, no President would emerge in the first ballot. The Igbo have “learnt” (learned) a bitter lesson.
Apart from his writerly skills, Dr. Reuben Abati has a “history” (life story). –DAILY SUN, January 12,2017.