‘Xmas’ Informal for Christmas

Expression BY Ebere Wabara

PLEASE note that ‘Xmas’ is informal. It is basically used on cards, signs and SMS. Standard (formal) entry: Christmas.

“Wike, Fubara (Fubara’s) loyalists battle for control of Rivers Assembly”

It is over: “Healing, deliverance & breakthrough awaits (await) you”

“Wike sets mid 2024 (mid-2024) for completion of abandoned VP’s residence”

“With rising insecurity nationwide, it has become expedient to deploy those policemen to (in) general security operations instead of securing political office holders and other affluent Nigerians.”

“Hamas confirms near truce (near-truce) agreement with Israel”

“…other sympathisers (sympathizers, preferably) have been trooping to his resident (residence) in Oke-Afa area of….” 

“18 IPOB members arrested over (for) killing of 2 police officers in Imo”

“1 killed, 2 escape with loot as vigilantes confront armed bandits in Abia” Delete ‘armed’ in the interest of front-page communication.

“The next step is complete collapse and the Supreme Court has initiated the complete collapse of Nigeria.” Yank away ‘complete’ from the extract on grounds of its redundancy.

“I felicitate with the indefatigable….” Get it right: I felicitate the Indefatigable…. ‘Felicitate with’ indicates sub-literacy!

“…is a testament to you (your) popularity made possible by all your good work (works) in office.”

“Congratulations, His (Your) Excellency”

“The North Central is buffeted by herdsmen (herdsmen’s) menace.”

“…Nigerians on a level playfield with the expatriates to some extent.” Not my opinion: a level playing field.

“LASTCOC vows to end truckers’ plight, inaugurates new committee” Does anyone inaugurate an old committee? It is possible the culprits here do not know the meaning of ‘inauguration’!

“Man remanded over (for) alleged killing of wife”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY MAGAZINE of December 3 disseminated just two solecisms: “…in this piece pays tribute to one of Africa’s notable poet (poets) as he enters the winter of life.”

“Small business start ups tips” Get it right: start-up/startup tips

“Its (It’s) been 7 years since you left us but memories of you lingers (linger) in our hearts.”

“Congratulations…for (on/upon) participating in the National Growth Challenge September to December 2023….”

 “Borno reviews 24hrs (sic) curfew” and “Igbo community in Kano elects new officers” This way: 24-hour curfew/24 hours’ curfew. The community elected officials (not the otiose ‘new’)—if they were old officials, you re-elect!

“Japanese diplomat arrested over (for/in connection with) fire at DRC embassy”

“Torching (Touching) lives of orphans through sports”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY of December 3 disseminated just this infraction: “Campaigners accuse Shell over (of) weapons”

THISDAY, THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER, of December 3 also circulated four blunders: “FG hands tanker drivers 48hrs (48 hrs’) ultimatum to relocate from MMIA” By the way, what difference would it have made spelling out ‘hours’?

“In its stead comes a mind-blowing display of opulence that has suddenly taken a firm root among the elite and nouveau riche….” Singular: nouveau riche; plural: nouveaux riches

“Before now, weather forecasts from NIMET were never taken serious (seriously) because….”

Lastly from THE SATURDAY NEWSPAPER: “As part of the build up (build-up) to the event….”

The PUNCH of November 16 published a few mistakes: “AT least one person was feared killed on Thursday morning when a 12-man armed bandits (12-man gang of bandits) struck at….” ‘Banditry’ involves the deployment of a measure of violence with sharp objects/instruments/weaponry during robbery. So, ‘armed banditry’ is sheer verbosity! 

“UN condemns crack down (crackdown) on Cairo protesters”

Lastly from the Back Page of The PUNCH under review: “…whereas they are kept at arms’ length.” Friday musings: arm’s length

“…said that the aforementioned are (were) the younger generation of leaders who failed the nation.”

Daily Independent Online of November 7 goofed three times: “State of emergency has restored normalcy in (to) North”

“NIMASA alerts ships (ship owners, you mean?) on (to) danger spots”

The Guardian of November 6 committed copious offences beginning from its front page; “Besides, the state government on Sunday began the fumigation and clearing of drainages in six areas of the Maiduguri metropolis….” Conscience, nurtured by truth: ‘drainage’ is uncountable.

“Bank of England’s rate policy may highten (heighten) inflation”

“Maid set ablaze dies in hospital, as police pledges (pledge) justice”

Now The Guardian Editorial: “They may not have triumphed in their efforts to (at) nation-building….”

“Your wise counsels and dogged commitment to the progress and unity of this nation has (have) remained exemplary.” ‘Counsel’ is a non-count noun.

“Some allege without proof that Tinubu is the force behind Bamidele in his determination to confront Fayemi….” (THISDAY, August 3). If the word ‘allege’ means ‘to assert something without any proof’, then delete ‘without proof’ from the extract!

“But the level of pain, agony and anguish inflicted on Nigerians by ethno-religious carnages…”  (Source: as above) ‘Carnage’ is an uncountable noun. (The two preceding errors were contributed by Lucky Ihanza/08032764536)

“KSB: I will marry again if…” Truth in defence of freedom: I will remarry if…

“The accident, which occurred around (about) 6.30am (6.30 a.m.), was the worst in the locality in a decade.” ‘Around’ is sheer Americanism!

“Fifteen of the youth died while several of them have (had) fractures and are (were) being attended to at government (the government) hospital in the….”

“Sources said the deceased might be given mass burial since they are (were) from the same village.”

Finally, THE NATION ON SUNDAY of December 3: “The era of harassments from NYDC, a federal agency, has finally been put paid to by that landmark judgment.” ‘Harassment’, unlike ‘embarrassment’, is uncountable.

“The Ijaws, Urhobos, the Itsekiris, the Ilajes are killing each other (one another).”

“The readiness of the President and his vice to acquiesce to (in) Senate’s decision.…”

 “The time when one ethnic group and the multi-ethnic political prostitutes and the favoured can walk roughshod over the rest of the country have (has) gone forever.”

“Security reports indicated that the strategy of vicious robbery operations are (is) hatched at the chambers of hotels.”

“Specifically, the crisis in the community bothers (borders) on the refusal of majority (a majority) of the people….” (THE GUARDIAN, November 27)

“Ethical status of PCN worry (worries) pharmacists” 

“The committee has since submitted its report, while the public awaits the government’s white paper on it.”  Education: simply the white paper.

The next four improprieties are from VANGUARD of November 27: “As a result (a comma) Nigeria’s role in (on) the continent has been a critical one.”

“Instead we saw belated efforts when the chicken has (had) come home to roost.”

“Someday when the history of Nigeria, with regards (regard) to its bureaucracy….”

“Dignitaries at (on) the occasion included….” 

“UNILAG alumni meets” Our alumni meet monthly or the alumni association meets monthly.  No mix-up.

“They hardly acknowledged each other’s presence, talkless of (let alone) engaging in courteous exchanges.” 

“State, council relationship: Chairmen pick hole (holes) in 1999 constitution”

“For that, you need an experienced sailor, not an oars man with an ‘L’ plate number.” From the master: number-plate

“So we now gathered in my house at (on) Victoria Island….”

“Western delegates have stabbed us at (in) the back.”

“You better (had better) come to Jos, Plateau State”

“Most observers are agreed that the national question has become more aggravated under the present regime.  ‘More aggravated’ sounds illiterate.  ‘Aggravation’ means to make worse.