Wrong Usage Of Words: A Recipe For Failure In Various English Language Examinations

English is the language of communication in many countries. In our daily spoken and written English, we make lots of mistakes without knowing they are wrong. It cuts across all phases including board meeting, business lunch, political meeting, annual general meeting, high school, editorial work or research and even in the University.

This article brings out various errors in different aspects of English Language which are recipe for failure in various English language.

They include:

1. Wrong to say: The house has two bedrooms and a parlour. Say the house has two bedrooms and a sitting room. The expression parlour is outdated. Sitting room or living room is the usual word for relaxation and entertainment of guests.
2. Wrong to say: John’s father is a clergy. Say John’s father is a clergyman. Note: the clergy is the collective body of men and women ordained as religious ministers especially of a Christian church. We can see that clergyman is a member of the clergy.
3. Wrong to say: Have you got the informations? Say you have you got the information? We can also say have you got a piece of information? (The word information is an uncountable noun, and should not be pluralized).
4. Wrong to say: He is a sportman. Say he is a sportsman.
5. Wrong to say: Ade is the spoke man of the organization. Say Ade is the spokesman of the organization.
6. Wrong to say: Statistics are difficult subject. Say statistics is a difficult subject. Likewise other subjects like Economics, Physics, Mathematics and others.
7. Wrong to say: Politics are dirty game. Say politics is a dirty game.
8. Wrong to say: He is a coward boy. Say he is a coward.
9. Wrong to say: Draughts are a beautiful game. Say draughts is a beautiful game.
10. Wrong to say: NAFDAC arraigns a teenager who is in his 20s for importing fake drugs. Say NAFDAC arraigns a young man in his 20s for importing fake drugs. Please, note that the expression is wrong. If he is a teenager, he is in his teenage, that is thirteen, fourteen to nineteen respectively. Thus, someone cannot be a teenager and be in his 20s.
11. Wrong to say: The Vice Chancellor delivered the convocating speech at the university’s convocation. You should however say that the Vice Chancellor delivered the valedictory speech at the university’s convocation.
12. Wrong to say: He is a renowned master of ceremony. Say he is a renowned master of ceremonies. In other words, MC, as fondly called is the one who presides over a public ceremony, events, formal dinner and others.
13. Wrong to say: The meeting will be held next tomorrow. Say the meeting will be held on the day after tomorrow.
14. Wrong to say: He was the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Edo State. Simply say he was the former Attorney General of Edo State. Note: Attorney General coveys the same meaning as Commissioner for Justice.
15. Wrong to say: The school will hold a send-forth for the former principal. Say the school will hold a send-off for the former principal.
16. Wrong to say: I will do my possible best. Simply say I will do my best. Also correct to say I will do my best. I will do my utmost. I will do all I can.
17. Wrong to say: He is a corper. Say he is a corps member. Also correct to say he is an NYSC member.
18. Wrong to say: I will see you tomorrow next. Say I will say you the day after tomorrow.
19. I have done my washings today. Simply say I have done my washing today.
20. We had funs at the party. Say we had a lot of fun at the party.

In summary, we strongly hope that the above corrections have been noted for our daily written and spoken English Language, which cut across board meeting, business lunch, political meeting, annual general meeting, various examinations, high school, editorial work or research and even in the University.