Due to advanced technological innovation in electronic transfers, the usage of cheques has drastically declined in Nigerian banks. When a drawer (i.e. the customer) issues a cheque, they are giving the bank an order to deduct the written amount of money from their account upon deposit. The amount expected for withdrawal must be clearly written in both words and figures, and the payee’s name must be correctly written on the cheque. This mode of financial transaction is safe, especially when carrying large amounts of cash may pose a threat to one’s safety from armed robbers and their informants.
Sometimes, knowing when to use the appropriate prepositions in sentences to avoid grammatical errors and misinterpretation can be challenging and confusing for writers. This is probably because there are many rules governing their use. For example, “in bed” does not have the same meaning as “on bed rest”. The former can be used for “medical recovery”, while the latter implies “sleeping or resting; relaxing or lounging”. However, there are several other meanings associated with each of these phrases.
Cheque donations are common at social events, especially with philanthropists whose financial contributions to projects are often sought for significant projects in associations, academia, religious institutions, or corporate organizations. However, it is important to emphasize that the preposition for the word “cheque,” as popularized in Nigerian English, is grammatically incorrect. To support and verify this correction, there are reputable dictionaries that can be consulted.
Study the following example sentences:
Last month, the vice chancellor presented a cheque of NGN 500,000 to the best graduating student with a perfect CGPA. (Incorrect)
Last month, the vice chancellor presented a cheque for NGN 500,000 to the best graduating student with a perfect CGPA. (Correct)
The correct preposition for cheque as used in the above instances is “for”, not “of”.
Critically examine the following sentences from the Cambridge Dictionary:
“I wrote him a cheque for $50.”
“I made a cheque out for $20 to ‘Henry’s Supermarket’.”
In American English, the word is spelt as “check”, while British English uses “cheque”.
Operated on or Operate?
Certified medical practitioners perform procedures that require the manipulation of tissues, organs, or bodily systems. The word “operate” in this context requires the preposition “on” when used for humans or animals. The omission of the preposition is erroneous and necessary for effective communication.
Consider the following sentences:
The veterinary doctors operated the cow in the morning. (Incorrect)
The veterinary doctors operated on the cow in the morning. (Correct)
The surgeon operated Uche’s leg to repair the fracture. (Incorrect)
The surgeon operated on Uche’s leg to repair the fracture. (Correct)
The professor of English was operated at the Paradise Hospital for cervical cancer. (Incorrect)
The professor of English was operated on at the Paradise Hospital for cervical cancer. (Correct)
Festivals and Capitalization
Festivals are considered proper nouns, therefore requiring the capitalization of the first word in each of their names. One reason for this is the significant cultural, religious, and events they represent. Another reason is that capitalization upholds traditional naming conventions that may not be English words.
The president celebrates Eid-al-Fitr with Muslims annually.
Nigerian schools organize Children’s Day parties for their students on May 27.
New Year’s Eve falls on December 31st every year.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is typically celebrated in Gujarat, India.
Musa’s mother’s birthday on October 1 coincides with Nigeria’s Independence Day.
In the sentences above, “Eid-al-Fitr,””Children’s Day,””New Year’s Eve,””Diwali,” and “Independence Day” are examples of festivals, where the first words are capitalized as expected.
With Christmas and New Year fast approaching, understanding this simple rule will help you write about them without errors.
Religions, Continents, Specific Organizations, Languages, Titles, Rivers, Cities, Countries and Capitalization.
Africa is a continent with 54 countries divided into five subregions.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Hausa is one of the indigenous languages in Nigeria.
America is one of the most preferred countries for immigration among Nigerians.
Islam and Christianity both preach peaceful co-existence among humans worldwide.
Hilda Bacci once held the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon.
ASSIGNMENT
Choose the correct answers to each of the following questions:
We did some ____ last night. (a) works (b) work (c) work
___________ children have destroyed the tables in their classroom. (a) The (b) an (c) a
______ my advice, my son. (a) Heed to (b) Heed (c) Listening
Kindly forward your answers to samueltolulopealimi@gmail.com or send an SMS to 07049203179.
Names of those who answered the last questions correctly
Samuel Glory, Feyisayo Akorede, Adesina Sofiyat, Solomon Moses, Shukurat Adekola, Edward Israel, Caroline Praise, Mohammed Aishat, Philip Moses, Abdullahi Nuhul, Jerry Solomon, Aderibigbe Akorede, and Bala Aminat.
