Sample 1: “Recall that Olaiya Igwe had, last week Tuesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, marked his birthday anniversary with his teaming fans celebrating him on social media.”(UCH denies report of Olaiya Igwe’s death, Opera News, 3 August, 2021)
A lot has been said on this page about the great lexical, semantic and grammatical significance that may be associated with a seeming inconsequential spelling difference between two words. Rather than being minimized, the significance may even be heightened by a striking pronunciation similarity between such items. Against this background, we observe the error in the choice of the word teaming in the phrase “teaming fans.” Searching for a word that would convey an idea of a huge number of fans, the writer reached into his rich lexical repertoire and fetched the word team which he converted to a present (- ing) participle of adjectival character.
And why not? Does the noun team not refer to a group of people, and by extension a large number of them? This is erroneous thinking, pure and simple. Deceived by over familiarity with the word team but obviously faint if not zero familiarity with teem, the writer found himself fusing the two words in an unwitting display of ignorance. It is obvious that rather than taking authority over words, manipulating them to communicate meaning and pleasure, the writer has been manipulated by them.
To understand the nature of the error and facilitate its correction, we need to have a clear understanding of each of the words as well as its usage. We start with the word team (note the spelling). A team is a group of people working together, having a common purpose or goal. The word can be used both as a noun and as a verb: (1) To make for effective supervision, the people were divided into three teams, each with its own leader. (2) A team of experts has been assembled to study the problem and make recommendations. (3) Dr. John is industrious, purposeful and pushy, but has not been greatly successful because he cannot work with a team. In short, he lacks team spirit. (4) The football team suffered serial defeats because the members do not appreciate the advantage of teamwork. (5) Nigerian businessmen are infamous for not being team players.
In the sentences above, we have used the word team mainly as a noun, but in some places as modifier. Next we use it as a verb: (1) If you had teamed up with your neighbour, you would have succeeded in drawing government’s attention to the social problem in your neighbourhood. (2) He had teamed up with American experts in the first stage of the project. (3) If you are egoistic and unsociable, you may not want to team with other people. (4) The research project is such that requires experts in the humanities to team up with their counterparts in the sciences. (5) When researchers in industries team up with academics, the result can be monumental.
Next, we demonstrate the usage of the word teem: (1) The lake is dark, deep and still, teeming with all sorts of dangerous animals, especially crocodiles. (2) His heads always teeming with new but weird ideas, the professor pours out torrents of words. (3) We were kept indoors for close to five hours as it was teeming down – an unprecedented rain in the middle of dry season. (4) The Doctor disclosed that the boy’s alimentary system was teeming with worms, which was why he was always complaining of stomach upset. (5) At night, the streets are said to be teeming with men of dubious character.
From the sentences above, it should be clear that for a place to be teeming up with something it is full of that thing. It is important to note the difference in the spelling of teem and team. It is also important to note that the word teem usually occurs in the present participle (or –ing) form: teeming mosquitoes, teeming with sick children, teeming unemployed people. At any rate, the word teeming replaces teaming in the structure under examination.
Sample 2: “Once we hear any negative news pertaining to clergies, we throw (away) all sense of reasoning…”(Winner’s Chapel saga…Opera News, 21 July, 2021)
The word that interests us is clergies which occurs in the following context: “pertaining to clergies.” Both the plural form and its usage are unconventional. The word is not normally pluralized with the final –ies as we have it in this report.
The form clergy is invariably maintained but in addition modified by the definite article (the): the clergy. This expression is usually construed in the plural. It refers to the leadership of religious organisations, a body of religious leaders. It is often used in contrast with the laity, meaning the religious following or members of a congregation. However, when we need singular and plural forms, we opt for: clergyman/clergy woman and clergymen/clergywomen.
Now read the following sentences: 1) The problem of corruption has to be tackled by both the clergy and the laity. 2) The clergy are reluctant to admit women into their fold. 3) You can only join the clergy by divine calling and training. 4) The strength and quality of the laity are determined by the strength and quality of the clergy. 5) The laity should be guided by the clergy in matters of scriptural interpretation. 6) In terms of godliness and holiness, there should be no difference between the clergy and the laity. 7) It is the attitude and conduct of the clergy that will determine whether they will be respected by the laity. 8) Membership of the clergy seems to be reducing gradually. 9) The clergy command respect all over the world. 10) Was there any time in religious history when there was no difference between the clergy and the laity? 11) My grandfather was a highly respected clergyman. 12) The idea of clergywomen is a recent phenomenon in Christendom. 13) A clergyman or a clergywoman is an ordinary human being with a special spiritual experience and duty. 14) It is advisable for a woman to become a clergywoman only after she has stopped bearing children. 15) Must a prospective clergyman or clergywoman take a vow of celibacy?
In the light of this discussion, the word clergies should be changed to the word clergymen in the context under review.
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