Iced Cubes, not ‘Blocks’

SATURDAY EXPRESSION 

With Ebere Wabara, ewabara@yahoo.com, 08055001948

SIGN writing on the wall of a shop on Itire road: “Iced cubes sold here” Get it right: buy your iced cubes (not blocks) here.
DAILY SUN Opinion Page headline solecism of September 25 formally welcomes us today: “The journalist as endangered specie (species)”
“Also, in Kebbi State and few (a few) other states in the North, flooding has caused untold misery….” (DAILY SUN Editorial, September 20)
“It was a black Sunday for residents of Oluwalogbon Community, Osi Ota, Ogun State (a comma) as armed robbers raided the community, killing and injured (injuring) three others.”
“Ethnic agitation: Nigeria will not breakup (break up), says Oyegun”
“Nnamdi Azikiwe University 2017/2018 post UTME screening exercise” In honour of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe: post-UTME screening
“FAAN workers to protest over (against/at/about) Lagos, Abuja airports’ concession”
“But all our future blessing would be achieved through waiting in the Lord.” If you are after God’s heart, you wait on, not in, the Lord.
“Before embarking on the strike action….” You can as well embark on the ‘strike inaction’!
“It was as though both informants were mischievous people who had an affinity in (for) discrediting the preacher.”
“The vigilante group visited instant judgment on the thief and sent him to the great beyond.” In the name of excellence: vigilance group.
“Sixteen people were killed (16 people died) and two others seriously injured in a ghastly (fatal) accident which occurred along (on) the Bauch-Auchi road on Saturday.” If there were casualties, it follows that it was a fatal, not a ghastly, accident. The mishap did not drag along the road, but occurred at a spot on the road.
“Some of the despotic regimes thrown up in (on) the continent did worse things than was experienced under colonialism.”
“A weekly magazine took a professional risk and charged the speaker for (with) forgery.”
“…the same-day election is being proposed by the senate as part of the antidote for….” This way: antidote to….
“MEND in a statement signed by its spokesman…said it will (would) begin….”
“The targets are non-Muslims groups.” Existential humanism: non-Muslim groups.
THE GUARDIAN of September 25 contributed four inaccuracies to this week’s pool of blunders: “Then between 2007 and 2015, Ikot Ekpene senatorial district is on (in) the saddle.”
“…disclaimed insinuation (an insinuation or insinuations) in some quarters that….”
“Today, he does not only represent the rare specie (species) of lawyers….”
“Achebe was accused of being privy to the coup on the ground (grounds) that….”
“Achebe’s no hold barred (sic) reprimand on the Nigerian nation….” The Achebe story: no-holds-barred reprimand.”
“The sad story of some communities in Nkanu East Local Government of Enugu State that are literarily (literally) trapped….”
“I noticed that I stir up this awe whenever I speak in the company of my guys and others.” People: in company with (not of) my guys and others.
“Be your brother’s keepers….” Fixed expression irrespective of number of people involved: brother’s keeper.
“Yes, a lot of people like these kind of prophetic books.” This way: this kind/these kinds of people
“…God was merciful to have kept him for 23 years after the motor accident that confided (confined) him to the wheelchair.”
“Let your wrist watch speak volume (volumes)”
“To build capacity through trainings” ‘Training’ is non-count.
“This should have been our interactive platform and an income generating (income-generating) website.”
Please note this: ‘under the circumstance’ is American English while ‘in the circumstance’ is British English. This particular intervention is critical because in their book entitled Correct English, J. E. Metcalfe and C. Astle declared that ‘under the circumstance’ is wrong. But, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (New Edition) published in 2012 confirms the two expressions as correct entries. We should exercise circumspection in our use of the English language and its registers. I prefer ‘in the circumstance’, however.
“…has been as selfish, self serving (self-serving) and attempt (an attempt) by the House to place its members above the electorates they should be accountable to.” The making of invincible legislators: electorates/electors or the electorate (not the electorates).
“…and absorbs (absolves) them from civil or criminal proceedings….”
“The same house has (had) attempted in the past to compromise the….” Existential humanism: ‘in the past’ is redundant here.
“But what is really important is the number of people who turns (turn) new leaves….” Fixed/stock expression: turn a new leaf (irrespective of the number of people).
“Buhari, who summoned the service chiefs to Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, was said to have intimated them of (to) the Presidency’s plan….”
“Egypt (Egyptian) court revokes Morsi’s firing of prosecutor”
“The President then presents the recommendation to the National Council of States (State) for deliberation.”
“…it might afford the country the opportunity to a round table (sic) to regurgitate what grouse each bears against (about) the other (one another).”
“It was their battle (Niger Delta militants) that awaken (awoke) the consciousness….”
“I believe in total and comprehensive assessment of a person to determine his/her (their) suitability and overall credibility.”
“UI students’ union leaders sworn-in (sworn in), seek cooperation”
“The minister goes on to paint a very laudable picture of the purpose of the First Ladies Peace Mission, rounding up (rounding off) with the battle-cry….”
“He said the village have (had) never been attacked in the past….”
“…majority (again, a majority) of them failed woefully (abysmally).”
“…who briefed journalists on the company’s field development programme yesterday, in company of (in company with) the vice-chairman….”
“The victims comprised of four….” Delete ‘of’ in pursuit of reason and truth.
Still on the editorial: “…stakeholders to put heads together in order to help find lasting solution (a lasting solution) to the security challenges presently facing the nation.” Why not ‘the insecurity facing the nation’?
“Shareholders of GSK Plc (PLC) has (have) enjoyed a huge….”
“But GSK need (needs) a more robust fourth quarter to sustain the record-setting bullish run.”
“…where majority (a majority) of the population live (lives)….”
“Survivors of suicide bomb attacks recount tales of woes” Kano blasts: tale of woe (fixed/stock expression—plurality notwithstanding) “Okopoly rector allays fears over masquerades (masqueraders)”
“Anambra 2017: PDP supporters on strategic take over (takeover) campaign”
NB: Contributions, in any form, are welcome. Thanks.