Sample 1: “The Koran and the Bible was said to have been used in the event, with Muslims throwing questions at the Pastor…”(Ugandan Pastor Beheaded…Opera News, 20 May, 2021)
I draw readers’ attention to the singular verb-form (was) which occurs in the following context: “the Koran and the Bible was said…” As already noted, the verb (was) is in its singular form. The next logical thing to do is to find out the noun element to which the singular verb should relate in concord. Of course, such an element has to be singular. A common sense reading of the structure under scrutiny points unmistakably to two noun elements which are the subject of the verb in question. These are: the Koran and the Bible. Elementary logic does indicate that these two elements taken together cannot be singular but plural. This grammatical reality contradicts the reporter’s choice (was), a singular form. The plural form (were) should be selected to replace the singular form in the context under review. This choice is in consonance with the grammatical logic of the structure.
Sample 2: “Recall that the US Department of State designated Abubakar Shekau as Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224 in June 21, 2012” (You are not eligible for the $ million bounty on Abubakar…Opera News, 21 May, 2021)
I draw readers’ attention to the expression, “in June 21, 2012”. Let’s note especially the particle in that introduces the expression. Furthermore, it is observable that a particular date, “21 June”, is mentioned. Here lies the problem. It would have been appropriate to use the particle in if no particular date is indicated. As the expression stands, however, the appropriate particle is on and not in.
Please read the following sentences:
1) Nigeria gained her independence on October 1, 1960.
2) On February 13, 1976, something of immense historical importance happened in this great country.
3) I will arrive, by God’s grace, on Friday September 5.
4) The protest is scheduled to take place on the first day of January, 2016.
5) The meeting will be held on 17th August, 2015.
6) The controversial election took place on June 12, 1993.
7) Every four years, the newly elected public officers are sworn in on the 29th day of May.
Further examples of contexts in which the preposition on is used:
1) Let’s meet on Thursday next week.
2) The dialogue took place on Monday last week.
3) Are you sure you will be there on Wednesday?
4) I hope to see you on Saturday morning.
5) When I visited him on Sunday morning, I found out that he wasn’t preparing to go to church.
6) I was with the family on Christmas day.
7) She woke up on that fateful day, happy, cheerful and upbeat.
8) On the day of his coronation, his wife could not receive visitors.
The following sentences exemplify the context in which the particle in appears:
1) Born in 1962 in Nigeria, the man has been to all the continents of the world.
2) The Nigerian Civil War started in 1967 and ended in 1970.
3) In what year did Nigeria become a Federal Republic?
4) Rains usually start in March every year.
5) I propose that the programme should come up early in the year.
6) The current democratic experience started in 1999.
At any rate, the particle on should replace in in the context under review: “on June21,2012.”
Sample 3: “Nigeria’s main opposition party said the breach of interstate travel and security protocol were an indication of President Buhari’s inability to effectively lead his family and personal aides.” (Shocking reason why Aisha Buhari Aides were arrested…Opera News Hub, Monday, 15 June, 2020)
Let’s pay attention to the plural verb-form (were) which occurs in the following context: “the breach of interstate travel and security protocol were an indication…” The choice of the plural form (were) must have been guided by the seeming plural items conjoined with the conjunction (and): interstate travel and security protocol.
But that is clearly a wrong choice. Yes, there are two items:
1) interstate travel
2) security protocol. Although these are two items, they do not constitute a plural item. The presence of two or more items does not necessarily require the choice of a plural verb. The logic of the grammar and of the context has to be considered. In the case of the grammatical context under consideration, the two items identified (and which are conjoined with the conjunction and) are irrelevant as far as concord is concerned. The key word that should determine concord (the choice of the verb-form, that is) is the noun breach, a noun that is obviously singular. The nounbreach relates directly to the word protocol. The two items identified earlier together modify the noun protocol.
At any rate, a singular verb-form (was) should replace the plural verb-form in the context under consideration: “the breach…of protocol was an indication…”
Sample 4: “Furthermore, Olusegun Obasanjo has gone viral after it was reported that he travelled to Benin Republic in other to seek soft-landing for Sunday Igboho.” (Olusegun Obasanjo travels to Benin Republic…Opera News, 7 August, 2021)
Next, we consider the word other which occurs in the context: “he travelled to Benin Republic in other toseek soft-landing…” The expression in other to is clearly confused with in order to which is the appropriate one for the context. This issue has engaged our attention repeatedly on this page and it would amount to reinventing the wheel if we do not exercise the freedom to appropriate the fruits of our earlier efforts. That freedom is hereby exercised.
Some Nigerian users of English find it difficult to differentiate in pronunciation between the words order and other, thus carrying the phonological confusion into the idiomatic and syntactic usage.
Now read the following sentences:
1) The Treasury Single Account (TSA) was introduced in order to prevent public officers from exceeding their spending limits.
2) Nigerian languages and cultures are being taught in public schools in order to wean our citizens from unhealthy attachment to foreign languages and culture.
3) Regular parents-teachers meetings are held in order to foster a sustained dialogue between parents and teachers.
4) Politicians hold their meetings at night in order to prevent other people from having access to their information.
5) The pregnant woman was immediately subjected to surgery in order to prevent her from laboring too much.
6) The coach subjected his team to regular rigorous training in order to guarantee a brilliant international outing.
7) A lot of stones and cement were used in order to give the building a strong foundation.
8) He told so many lies in order to present himself as a man of integrity.
9) Many advertisements were placed in newspapers in order to generate goodwill for the organization.
10) Many more hands were employed in order to cope with the volume of production this season requires.
The word order can be used in a variety of other ways that should help highlight the difference between it and the word other.
Now read the following sentences:
1) It is the constitutional duty of the police to maintain law and order.
2) People will be attended to in the order in which they arrived.
3) The order of service is contained in the pamphlets distributed to the worshippers.
4) No particular order is followed in the way doctors attended to their patients.
5) The chief executive has given an order which cannot be countermanded.
6) The restriction order in that part of the country has been lifted.
7) Since his assumption of office, the president has been trying to put things in order.
8) The machine is out of order and it will require a huge sum of money to fix it.
9) It may interest you to note that I don’t take orders from just anybody.
10) The company has placed an order for a new generator.
11) The army General ordered his men to leave the city.
12) Students were ordered to stay away from the venue of the meeting.
Next we illustrate the usage of the word other. The word can be used in a number of different senses.
Read the following sentences:
1) Apart from excessive cash in circulation, there are other factors responsible for inflation.
2) Apart from Christianity and Islam, there are other important religions in the world.
3) The first gentleman seems to be more responsible than the other two.
4) His father had other children by another wife.
5) There are many other things we need to discuss.
6) The other day he was saying something I didn’t quite understand.
7) I see no reason why the two friends should be quarrelling with each other.
8) There are many other books on the same subject.
9) There are situations other than this in which we can encounter similar challenges.
10) We live on the other side of the street.
11) The other false assumption is that life will go on forever.
12) My uncle’s other properties are in Abuja.
13) Some men discriminate against women. In other words, they feel they are superior to women.
14) Soldiers need to understand that this is a democracy and not military dictatorship. In other words, they should learn to submit themselves to civil authority.
15) Parents have a vital role to play in the moral upbringing of their children. In other words, parents should never leave the spiritual and moral destiny of their children entirely in the hands of teachers.
At any rate, the expression in order to should replace in other to in the context under consideration.
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