‘Between You and I’ Wrong

Ebere Wabara

YOU are welcome to our language clinic: “Rivers police allay fears (fear) over Boko Haram”

Still on this irritant: “FG reassures on rescue of Chibok schoolgirls” Who did it reassure for the umpteenth time?

You are welcome to the next three odious lines: “Since then there have (has) been relative peace in that region.”

“The truth is that the country needs peace urgently and this has to be pursued in a (an) honourable manner.”

“The ugly situation such appointments was (were) meant to address is degenerating on a daily basis.” 

And now the Editorial with three improprieties: “…which stipulates that all luggages should be picked (picked up) at the baggage-reclaim area of any airport.” ‘Luggage’ is uncountable.

“The manner Abia and his orderly took the law into their hands at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, is unacceptable.” Fixed expression: take the law into your (their) own hands.”

“…the majority of which will come from new gas fired (gas-fired) power stations.”

“The applicant said that on the face of the charge levied (levelled) against him….”

“…on the ground (grounds) that sedition no longer constituted a punishable offence under Section 39 of the Constitution as amended.”

The next six blunders are from a full-page advertorial published in Daily Trust under review: “With profound (a profound) sense of loss, the Board of Commissioners, Management and Staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission, (otiose comma) regrets (regret) to announce….”

“Funeral Arrangements (unnecessary capitalization) as announced by the family are as follows (follow)….”

Finally from the NCC: “St. Mathew’s (Matthew’s) Anglican Church….”

And lastly from Daily Trust: “CBN orders banks to refund ATM shortchanged (ATM-shortchanged) customers”

Wrong: Between you and I; Right: Between you and me.

“Beyond that, he said the government has (had) also set up an….”

“Recently, Nwizu who wouldn’t allow women come close to him in his hey days (sic) as robbery kingpin….” Top stories: ‘heyday’ (one word) is uncountable. 

“Indeed the results of the poll was (were) a testimony that the hiccups notwithstanding….”

“To a large extent, it has become historic and one that carries with it, (needless comma) enormous potentials to….” Again, ‘potential’ is non-count.

“…stiffer penalties that will serve as deterrence (a deterrent) against the mismanagement or diversion of pension funds….”

“Senator Ahmad Maccido’s interview in all ramification (ramifications) portrays an intent to drag the….” Yank away ‘an’.

“Though Senator Maccido is an (a) heir apparent (heir-apparent) to the Sultanate, but (sic) that is no political leverage.” Vista: ‘though’ and ‘but’ cannot co-exist in the same lexical environment.”

Leadership of April 5 disseminated multifarious errors: “…frequented the shoemaker’s shop to patch-up (patch up) leaking soles and scruffy leather.”

“It has become fashionable since 2007 to draft governors who has (why?)….”

From the opinion/comments page to Editorial: “Now that this deadly ring has been bursted (busted)….”

“Effective aerial surveillance of forests, especially those at (on) city outskirts and around the nation’s expressways, should be able to discover such questionable structures.”

Daily Independent online edition of April 1 steps in with a set of infractions: “We should not allow it because it will create problem (a problem or problems) for the economy….”

“FG urged to deploy more ICT equipment at (in) airports, seaports”                                                                                                                                          “…Emeifele had abandoned the role of Central (sic) banker to pursue other interests in disregard to (for/of), (needless comma) and unconnected with the mandate of the office.”

“I will limit my discussion to one amongst (among—modern trend) the few….” ‘Amongst’ and ‘amidst’ belong to old school!

The next two contributions are from Ken Ugbechie: “In (or with) regards to” should read ‘regard’ and ‘with regards’ also without ‘s’….” (THE NATION ON SUNDAY, April 7)

“Comrade Joe Ajaero believes the administration of President Bola Tinubu is itching (inching) toward….”

Vanguard of April 4 enrols in the hall of infamy with the following solecisms: “Labour raises alarm (the alarm) over FG’s plan to sack over 1,050 civil servants”

“Violation of rights: Ex CBN (Ex-CBN) gov, Emeifele (another comma) wins round one”

“Akwa Ibom govt defends self over civil servants (servants’) salary delay”

“Traffic warden remanded in prison for beating police (sic)” A rewrite: Traffic warden remanded for beating policeman”

“…the necessary antidotes for (to) the current administrative quagmire in the country.”

“…the National Conference at (in) Abuja had exhumed, (otiose comma) series (a series) of fall-outs (sic)….” ‘Fallout’ is uncountable and not hyphenated.

“Worshiping is good but acquiring knowledge is better” Spell-check: worshipping

Blueprint of April 7 comes next with an avalanche of solecisms; “Workers (Workers’) lateness to work worries HOS”

“What late (the late) Ikemba told me about those challenging Obiano’s victory”

“Bauchi govt arrests three Chinese over (for) mining activities” They were arrested for hazardous mining activities—not just as it stands!

“Those calling for Nigeria’s break up (break-up) are dreaming.”

“Expert tasks FG on 500 unemployed Nigeria (Nigerian) pilots”

“In seven (7 preferably for headline purposes) years, our work speaks volume (volumes)….”

“…the governor has failed his people woefully (abysmally).”

Finally from Daily Independent politics page of the edition under review: “…the judge stated that the 37 defected PDP members has (had) no business remaining in the House since….”

Wrong: “You better come….” Right: You had better come….

“10-year-old boy strangles playmate to death in Lagos” (Sunday Vanguard, March 31). To ‘strangle’ someone is to kill the person by squeezing their throat so as to cut off their oxygen supply. You cannot use the verb ‘strangle’ with ‘death’ in the same sentence. (Contributed by Dr. Stanley Nduagu/Aba/08062925996) More constructive reactions from readers are always welcome as they enrich this space. 

“ICPC boss laments high rate of ‘sex for grades’ (sex-for-grades) in schools”

“Despite the huge money expended in (on) these periodic maintenance exercises, the nation’s refineries have remained unproductive, forcing the country to depend so much on imported petroleum products at exorbitant rates.”

Daily Independent Online of March 2 backs the floodgate of goofs this week: “The result is that many under-aged (sic) children are routinely subjected to abuse….” All the facts, all the sides: overage and underage (not ‘overaged’ or ‘underaged’) children.

The politics page of the above medium raises the tone with four slip-ups: “The Presidential Advisory Committee on National Conference recently kick started (kick-started) its sitting in Akure….”

“These facts have contributed greatly in (to) the level of congestion in the courts.”

“…enjoy their loots and still aspire for (to) higher offices.” Again, ‘loot’ is uncountable—and you aspire to, not for!