[9/5, 8:18 PM] UJ: #repost
*IT’S HIGH TIME and IT’S ABOUT TIME*
‘It’s high time’ or ‘it’s about time’ are used to say strongly that you think something should happen soon or should already have happened. They are often used in the spoken form of English.
It’s about time our team WON.
It’s high time we HAD a party.
Note that the action verbs in the sentences (capitalised in the examples above) are in the PAST TENSE though the actions have not taken place. Always use these expressions with the past tense form of the verb in the sentence.
It’s high time we left. (Right)
It’s high time we go. (Wrong)
LDOCE, ELC-UI
[9/10, 7:44 PM] UJ: *COLLEAGUE*
col‧league /ˈkɒliːɡ $ ˈkɑː-/ noun [countable]
COLLEAGUE is someone you work with – used especially by professional people SYN co-worker, associate.
In the strict sense, it would be wrong to address one's classmate, student or ally as a colleague if such individual is not a fellow member or staff of one's profession or academic faculty, or belongs to other organisations.
A *colleague* of mine from the bank.
She discussed the idea with some of her *colleagues* at work.
LDOCE, OALD, CD
[9/15, 9:19 PM] UJ: SUBJECT: English Language
TOPIC: Miscellaneous Errors in English
Dear highly esteemed Colleagues, presumably, I believe that your English speaking proficiency is on the increase daily. Remember, your accent is your access; and your expression is your impression. Thus we must strive to gain mastery in those areas.
Today, I want to correct fifteen(15) expressions that many a people have accepted without a blink of thought if really they are correct:
1. She has put to bed.❌
She has put to birth.✔️
She has given birth.✔️
Many people use the above expression to mean that one gave birth, but PUT TO BED means, to help someone, for example a child, go to bed.
2. The job is TASKING.❌
The job is TAXING.✔️
When something is difficult or burdensome, it is taxing, not tasking.
3. He has WHIKLOW on his hand.❌
He has WHITLOW on his hand.✔️
4. He is a graduate OF Accounting.❌
He is a graduate IN Accounting.✔️
(Graduate IN..., not OF...)
5. He is a doctorate degree holder.❌
He is a doctoral degree holder.✔️
He is a doctorate holder.✔️
('Doctorate' is a noun; 'Doctoral' is an adjective)
6. One faithful day...❌
One fateful day...✔️
7. Pray without season.❌
Pray without ceasing.✔️
(Biblical)
8. In as much as...❌
Inasmuch as...✔️
9. Birds of the same feather.❌
Birds of a feather.✔️
10. Truth be told...❌
If truth be told...✔️
11. Any time/moment from now...❌
Any time/moment now...✔️
12. He is a masquerade.❌
He is a masquerader.✔️
A masquerade is not a person; a masquerade is an event where masqueraders hold a display.
13. He is student OF Unilag.❌
He is a student AT Unilag.✔️
(Student AT + institution)
14. Let's share the grace:❌
Let's say grace:✔️
15. It picked my interest.❌
It piqued my interest.✔️
Did you learn something today?
Your English enthusiast, BAIK.
[9/16, 9:14 PM] UJ: *LEST I/WE FORGET*
It is used when reminding people of something very important. It is LEST, not less.
He saved a Labour party which, *lest we forget*, came close to extinction.
[9/18, 9:28 AM] UJ: *STUDY THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE WITH ME, FOLKS*
1. STOOD vs STOOL
Never call STOOL: a seat without a back or arms, typically resting on three or four legs or on a single pedestal, STOOD❌
STOOD is the past tense form of the verb STAND.
"I met him resting his legs on a STOOL" ☑️
"I met him resting his legs on a STOOD" ❌
2. POTABLE or PORTABLE WATER?
It is POTABLE water and not PORTABLE water
POTABLE: good for drinking without fear of poisoning or disease.
3. OFFSPRING or OFFSPRINGS?
Never add the letter 's' to the word OFFSPRING.
It is wrong to say OFFSPRINGS❌
4. GRASS-ROOT or GRASS-ROOTS?
The word GRASS-ROOTS means:
(a) the common or ordinary people, especially as contrasted with the leadership or elite of a political party, social organization, etc.; the rank and file.
b) the agricultural and rural areas of a country, should not be written as GRASS-ROOT when used as defined above.
GRASS-ROOT ❌
GRASS-ROOTS ☑️
"You must attack the problem at the grass roots."
5. TRAFFIC JAM or HOLD UP or GO SLOW?
It is safer to say or write: TRAFFIC HOLD-UP;
TRAFFIC JAM; or GRIDLOCK when describing a long line of vehicles on a road that cannot move or can only move very slowly.
Avoid using GO-SLOW ❌
'GO-SLOW' does not relate to traffic activities.
_Only the Living Learn_
REFERENCES
MY NOTE
LONGMAN DICTIONARY OF CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH, NEW EDITION.
#waleadenaya12092021
[9/18, 1:04 PM] UJ: Idioms: Off
“She swept me off my feet.”
• off (someone’s) feet = overwhelmed emotionally, made to fall in love.
Used with “swept” and “knocked.”
→ The company swept me off my feet with a great job offer.
→ This band knocked me off my feet when I first heard their music.
[9/22, 1:14 PM] UJ: Confusing Words
– disburse vs. disperse –
• disburse = to pay out (distribute) money.
→ The money was disbursed to investors.
• disperse = to send in different directions, to make go away.
→ Police dispersed the crowd.
[9/22, 9:42 PM] UJ: I'd appreciate your feedbacks❎
I'd appreciate your feedback ✅
The girl is full of potentials❎
The girl is full of potential ✅
I want to show you some stuffs ❎
I want to show you some stuff ✅
Note: Feedback, potential and stuff are employed the same way for both singular and plural. Except (Foodstuffs)
[9/22, 9:47 PM] UJ: Don't forget,
Payments are not made instalmentally ❎❎
Payments are made in/by installments ✅✅
_Hint : Instalmentally is no where in the dictionary._
I was *beaten* by the rain ❎❎
I was *drenched* by the rain ✅✅
[9/22, 9:47 PM] UJ: Up-and-coming public speakers
(not upcoming)
Upcoming is for events/activities.
Up-and-coming is for talented people who are just setting out with their crafts.
Please, take note.
[9/22, 9:47 PM] UJ: On idioms,
Gone are the days when we can trust a total stranger. ❎❎
The days are gone when we can trust a total stranger. ✅✅
Half bread is better than none ❎❎
Half a loaf is better than none ✅✅
Half a loaf is better than no bread ✅✅
[9/22, 9:47 PM] UJ: Please buy me a *TORCHLIGHT* from the market. ❎❎
Please buy me a *TORCH* from the market. ✅✅
The Americans call it *FLASHLIGHT*
⚠️ In British English, TORCHLIGHT is the light produced by an electric TORCH.
[9/28, 6:10 AM] UJ: #repost
*BUCKLE DOWN & BUCKLE UP*
Buckle down is to set to work with vigour or concentrate on one's work. It could also mean to start working very hard.
He was by nature a daydreamer and found it hard to *buckle down*.
Buckle up is simply to fasten one's belt, seat belt, or buckles.
She won't start the car until we've all *buckled up*.
PS: Buckle down (not, buckle up) is the right phrasal verb to be used to mean more focus or concentration to work.
[9/28, 10:41 PM] UJ: *That your sister is beautiful.*❎❎
"That" and "your" are determiners and, in English, determiners do not co-occur. In other words they are not used as pre-modifiers in the same environment.
The correct version of the wrong sentence is:
*That sister of yours is beautiful.*✅✅
Or
*Your sister is beautiful.*✅✅
[9/28, 10:41 PM] UJ: Stop saying *my phone is hanging.*
Say *my phone is glitching* Or *My phone glitches*
[9/28, 10:41 PM] UJ: Criterion (singular)✅
Criteria (plural)✅
Criterias❎❎
[9/28, 10:41 PM] UJ: *I got beaten by the rain* ❎❎
Rain can never beat you.
Next time, say:
*I got drenched by the rain*✅✅
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