SAMPLE 1: “Lamenting the effects of the rainfall, a resident, Mr Taiwo Ajadi, appealed to the government to construct proper drainages in the estate in order to spare them the further agonies…Another resident, Mr Bola Adeyemi, blamed the indiscriminate erection of shops on culverts for the floods, noting that dirt thrown were obstructing water channels and blocking the drainages…We only need proper drainages in the estate to avoid partial flow of water. If they are unblocked drainages, there will be free flow of water…A party stalwart of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Eti-Osa and a resident in the estate, Samuel Kadiri said the Chairman of Etiosa Local Government, Saheed Bankole, has started the construction of drainages in all the affected towns in Eti-Osa…”(Flood: Traders, Residents Lament, The Nation, 13 October, 2019)
The word drainages (notice the plural form) occurs five times in the excerpt. Here are the contexts in which it occurs: “to construct proper drainages”; “blocking the drainages”; “need proper drainages”; “unblocked drainages”; and “construction of drainages”. In none of those instances should the word occur in its plural form.
This usage confusion arises, I guess, because the reporter mistakes the drainage facilities for the system or process which the word drainage properly denotes. Yes, drainage is about the system or process of making water or any other liquid flow through an appropriate channel or facility. Drainage does not refer to a structure or facility; it is an uncountable noun denoting the process or system of movement of liquid.
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It should be obvious that what the reporter has in mind when he uses the word drainage is the concrete structure, the facility, the water pathway being constructed for the drainage system. Many Nigerians frequently pluralize the word drainage. But it is an uncountable noun which, typically, should not be pluralized.
Please read the following sentences: 1) Given the poor drainage, erosion will damage this road within a short time. 2) Engineers are already thinking about ways of improving the efficiency of the drainage system. 3) I am not an engineer, but it should be obvious to any observer that the drainage facility is faulty. 4) I think it will be useful to construct the drainage facility before the major construction begins. 5) Water gathers on this portion of the road because of inadequate drainage. 6) The drains seem to be blocked somewhere along the line. 7) The problem is that the drains are not big enough. 8) The drains connected to the central drainage system are either broken or blocked.
The important issue here is that the noun drainage should never be used in its plural form because it is an uncountable noun. In addition, it should not be modified by the indefinite article, a or its synonym. However, the word drain, referring to the pipe connected to the drainage system, is a countable noun and can be pluralized. For this reason, the following sentence is faulty: “The governor has given approval for the construction of more effective *drainages.” The sentence should read: “The governor has given approval for the construction of a more effective drainage structure/facility/system/channels.”
Sample 2: “In response to the growing insecurity in Enugu State, the government has reviewed, redesigned and beefed up the security architecture of the state, in the last one week after the series of security breaches that occurred in parts of the state, and believed to have been perpetuated by herdsmen.”(State of the nation: fear, tension, Sunday Sun, 11 August, 2019)
We examine the contextual appropriateness of the word perpetuated which occurs in the context: “security breaches…believed to have been perpetuated by herdsmen.” The context makes it clear that the word perpetuate has been used as a near synonym of the word commit as used in the expression “to commit a violent crime”. It should become obvious that the word perpetuate has been used in confusion with perpetrate. The confusion of identity stems partly from inaccurate pronunciation and partly from spelling liability on the part of the reporter. This kind of problem will continue to arise for as long as writers do not take up the challenge of getting thoroughly familiar with the “tools” of their trade – the words of the language. Crimes and other forms of misdeeds are said to be perpetrated. To perpetuate something, on the other hand, is to cause such a thing to continue.
Let’s illustrate their respective usage. First perpetrate: (1) Since the crime was perpetrated long before the law came into force, the offender cannot be successfully prosecuted now. (2) Poverty cannot be an excuse or justification for perpetrating crime. (3) Those who perpetrated the violent crime will be brought to justice speedily. (4) The human rights abuses perpetrated during the military era are still being collated. (5) The surprising thing is that the crime was perpetrated under the noses of the police. (6) Any crime perpetrated henceforth shall receive instant judgement.
Now perpetuate: (1) The interesting thing about genes is that they are perpetuated for as long as new generations are brought into being. (2) Folk tales are the chief means through which values are perpetuated in traditional societies. (3) Church doctrines and practices are perpetuated through regular Bible teaching. (4) Chief executives usually seek to perpetuate their influence in office by replacing themselves with their lackeys. (5) Instead of perpetuating them, we should do everything we can to eliminate these pernicious habits. (6) By refusing to punish those misdeeds, we are not only condoning poor work habits, we are actually collaborating to perpetuate them, encouraging people to continue to indulge in them.
At any rate, the word perpetrated should replace perpetuated in the context under examination.
16 common errors we make in everyday English
Incorrect: I cannot cope up with this pressure.
Correct: I cannot cope with this pressure.
The meaning of the verb cope is to manage. Cope is followed by the preposition with, and never followed by up. Even professionals commit this error.
Incorrect: I came to office by walk.
Correct: I came to office on foot.
We can say by car, by bike, by bus, by train and by flight. However, we cannot say by walk, as it is the foot which is being used to travel and not walk.
Incorrect: What is the time in your watch?
Correct: What is the time by your watch?
Incorrect: Our classroom is in the 2nd floor.
Correct: Our classroom is on the 2nd floor.
Incorrect: The price of this mobile phone is higher than yours.
Correct: The price of this mobile phone is higher than that of yours.
While comparing two individuals/things, than is followed by the pronoun that.
Incorrect: His son-in-laws have come home.
Correct: His sons-in-law have come home.
In plural form, it is always mothers-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law.
Incorrect: He has white hairs.
Correct: He has grey hair.
All the hair on one›s head is considered uncountable and so, hairs is almost always incorrect.
Incorrect: I prefer coffee than tea.
Correct: I prefer coffee to tea.
Prefer is always followed by the preposition to.
Knowledge of grammar and vocabulary both are essential for confident and fluent use of English language. Regularly read standard newspapers in English and as far as possible, use grammatically, logically, and meaningfully correct English.
Culled from: indiatoday
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