Potentials’ or Potentialities?

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Ebere Wabara

SOME readers still complain that they don’t understand the structure of this column. I have done the explanation innumerably such that it is becoming repetitive. Except where otherwise expressly stated or in the case of attributions, the corrections are usually bracketed.

Finally, there are endless mixed reactions to my stylistics here. A few readers say I am ‘harsh’ on my ‘victims’, while others declare that my approach is indeed their weekly tonic. I promised a colleague of mine who confronted me at the Nigerian Guild of Editors’ conference in Owerri, Imo State, recently, that I will re-examine my modus operandi lest I am accused of intellectual snobbery or professorial haughtiness!  Who am I? 

The word ‘potential’ (noun) is uncountable and means ‘the possibility that something will develop in a particular way, or have a particular effect’. (Source: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, 2021) Often, you hear or read ‘potentials’! It is only ‘potentiality’ that is countable (potentialities). 

“LASG inaugurates new vehicles to transport food” Nigerian Tribune of August 5 also had a similar error: “Ibadan Poly FIBSU inaugurates new executive” You do not inaugurate an old body/thing. So, yank away ‘new’! 

“Join the fun, excitement and match build up on GuinnessVIP.” Fly with the Eagles: build-up/buildup

“NAFDAC alerts Nigerians on (to) toxic substance in food”

“…trucks hauling petroleum products and other goods from one point to the other compounds the chaos around the country.”                                

Nigerian Tribune of August 5 offered readers multifarious shibboleths: “Anyone with useful (would it have been useless?) information on her whereabout (whereabouts) should please contact the nearest police station or….”

“Police arraigns (why?) suspected gay for having sex with underaged (underage) twin brothers”

 “Infact (In fact) your achievements within two years speaks (sic) volume (volumes).”

Nigerian Tribune of August 28 comes next with one wrong entry: “As a result, most of the military leaders of yesteryears (yesteryear) are stupendously rich and consequently calling the political shots.”

“FAAN tackles runaway (runway) incursions at (into) airports”

“ASUU strike action (what of inaction?): Students, parents lament” Education: just strike or industrial action/work stoppage—‘strike action’ indicates befuddled/loose thinking.

“You can literarily (literally) see and evaluate the state of the entire body by looking at the eye.”

“…the students of the University of Lagos under (on) the platform of the Department of Philosophy.”

“Few (A few) days later he invited the department through a friend for a chat.”

“…he (Suntai) wrote a letter to the state House of Assembly citing Section 190 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) indicating his interest to assume (resume) duty.”

“Eagles train under heavy downpour” The last word in the extract does not require any amplification/embellishment (heavy) as it is implied.

“NICON Luxury Abuja…its (it’s) about giving you the very best (just the best—delete ‘very’) ‘Best’ is a superlative word that has attained end-point intensification and, as such, cannot be qualified or subjected to any form of lexical adumbration! 

“Osun PDP dissociates self from party crisis…passes vote of confidence on (in)…”

“The governor transmitted a letter to the House of Assembly and assumed office, but the acting governor and majority (a/the majority) of the House of Assembly members rejected the letter….” This way: the recuperating governor resumed his seat/place/position.

“Fed Govt assures of lower interest for farmers, others” Who did the government assure? And this: lower interest rates

“Church holds eigth (eighth) convocation” 

Now THE NATION of August 28 with two ‘Eze-Goes-to-School’ slips: “The toll regime of…N150 (sports utility vehicles….)” SUV: sport-utility vehicle (take especial note of ‘sport’ and the hyphen). 

“Therein might lay (lie) its infrastructure salvation….”

 The Midweek Magazine of THE NATION under review disseminated two flaws: “…I think an intellectual movement is very desirable in (on) the entire continent which tries to show the uniqueness and potentials (potential or potentialities) that our traditional institutions hold….”

“Customer (Customers) decry long queues at ATMs”

“Low cost (Low-cost) carrier coming” and this: “Dike returns after six months (months’) injury”

“…as the newly promoted (newly-promoted) Assistant Inspector Generals of Police have (had) already undergone a two-week management course in Lagos.” Get it right: Assistant Inspectors General of Police

Daily Trust of August 9 takes over the baton at this point with blunders right from its front page: “Young Shall Grow boss survives assassination attempt” The transporter survived an assassination—not an attempt! The fact of his survival/escape implies there was an attempt on his life.

“The privilege (privileged) class has taken over virtually everything….”

“…power show in the country is choking the common man on the street….” My own view: the man/woman in the street (also the man/woman on the street)

“…and that these have the potential to trigger off crisis (a crisis) the end of which nobody could (can) fathom.”

“Reports said no fewer than 44 people were slaughtered penultimate Tuesday night by some unknown gunmen (we can never know the gunmen—so spare readers the ‘unknown’ trite!) at Dumba village on the outskirt (outskirts) of Baga town in the Kukawa Local Government Area of the state.”

“Our members have earned the allowances by working for the money and therefore we are not begging for crump (crumbs) from government.”

“She said the motive is (was) still unknown….”

Let us welcome Daily Independent (Online) of August 29: “Police cordons town hall over crisis” A rewrite: Police cordon off town hall after crisis

Leadership of August 28 committed juvenile errors: “…dignitaries at the event took their turn (turns) to thrash out the problems politicians have infested Nigeria with.”

“Influx of people stretch (stretches) our security—FCT CP”

“UN seeks Nigeria’s help to (at) restoring constitutional order in (to) Niger”

“India (India’s or Indian) parliament passes flagship food-for-poor scheme”

Last but not least of the pack today is The Guardian of August 27: “The crisis of governance in Nigeria today is certainly rooted in the absence of a (an) honest, capable and efficient civil service.”