Common Mistakes In English Language In WAEC, NECO, JAMB And Others.

English is the language of communication in many countries. In WAEC, NECO, JAMB and 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 which has its start from Common Mistakes in English Language in our secondary, tertiary and other institutions and we bring out various errors in different aspects of English Language.  They include:

1. Wrong to say: Bernard spoke to us with Yoruba. Rather say Bernard spoke to us in Hausa.
2. Wrong to say: John hit his head on the wall. Say John hit his head against the wall.
3. Wrong to say: Sign your signature at the end of the letter. Rather say put your signature at the end of the letter. Again, right to say sign your name or append your signature.
4. Wrong to say: I am feeling pain in my hand. Say I have a pain in my hand.
5. Wrong to say: Ojo has scaled through his exams. Rather say Ojo has sailed through his exams.
6. Wrong to say: He dabbled into another storm. Say he dabbled in another storm. You can as well say he dabbled with another storm. Dabble into is wrong.
7. Wrong to say: Congratulation my brother over victory. Say congratulations my brother on victory.
8. Wrong to say: I continued to remain loyal to her. Say I continued to be loyal to her.
9. Wrong to say: I prefer this book than the other. Say I prefer this book to the other.
10. Wrong to say: We look forward to see you tomorrow. Say we look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
11. Wrong to say: Please dress for me to sit down. Say please make room for me to sit down.
12. Wrong to say: He emerged into the water. Rather say he immerged into the water. To emerge is to rise out of. to immerge is to plunge into.
13. Wrong to say: The executive governor of Lagos State. Simply say the governor of Lagos State. Here the mention of executive governor is unnecessary whether he has executive power. So, adding executive does not add any meaning intended.
14. Wrong also to say: the executive president of the federal republic of Nigeria. Rather say the president of Nigeria.
15. Wrong to say: He has eaten government money. Correct to say he has stolen government money.
16. Wrong to say: You can be rest assured that your salary will be paid tomorrow. Say you can rest assured that your salary will be paid tomorrow.
17. The meeting will be held at 12 O’clock in the afternoon. Correct to say the meeting will be held at noon. Note that noon is midday. It begins from 12.01.
18. Wrong to say: I want to cut my hair. Say I want to have my hair cut. You can as well say I am going to have my hair barbered.
19. Wrong to say: I am interested on the matter. Correct to say I am interested in the matter.
20. Wrong to say: Please less the price. Simply say please, reduce the price or lessen the price.

In summary, we strongly hope that the above corrections have been noted not only in our various institutions of learning but in our daily written and spoken English Language, which cut across board meeting, business lunch, political meeting, annual general meeting, in our examinations, high school, editorial work or research and even in the University.