Common Errors In English With Samuel Alimi
Last week, I searched various authoritative dictionaries to confirm the definitions of the verb ‘skip’ and its connection with the noun ‘mind’. Unfortunately, many English speakers misuse the word by saying that something ‘skipped’ their minds. A communication expert once asked, “Is your mind a rope? Why would anything skip your mind?” I found it hilarious.
When I introduced this lesson to my audience on WhatsApp, one of them sent an appreciative message for the opportunity to learn through the platform I created. The question is, what is the correct word? Well, there are two options. You can use ‘slip’ or ‘escape’.
Below are example sentences from Cambridge Dictionary that validate this discovery:
I am sorry I forgot your birthday – it just slipped my mind.
I meant to tell you that he’d phoned, but it completely slipped my mind.
From the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary:
I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. It completely slipped my mind.
Consider the following sentences:
Mr Bala, I forgot to attend your wedding anniversary. It skipped my mind; I am genuinely sorry. (Wrong)
Mr Bala, I forgot to attend your wedding anniversary. It escaped my mind; I am genuinely sorry. (Correct)
Mr Bala, I forgot to attend your wedding anniversary. It slipped my mind; I am genuinely sorry. (Correct)
A diction coach who teaches in standard primary and secondary schools across Nigerian states posted information about the word ‘trouble’ on Monday. A particular student complained about her colleague who bullied her in class. In her attempt to retaliate, she informed the teacher that the student was “looking for her trouble”.
Of course, many learners are not aware that ‘looking for my trouble’ is an incorrect expression. The pronoun ‘my’ is invalid and unacceptable in Standard English. Therefore, the student should have said, “She was looking for trouble”. Trouble should not be personalized. It is an idiomatic expression that should not be altered.
Dear Life or My Dear Life?
I had a horrifying experience with over ten cultists during my teaching practice in one of the private secondary schools in Ogun State. I needed to have breakfast, so I decided to visit a restaurant. About five minutes later, they arrived with their weapons, which caused chaos in the entire community. Everyone ran for safety, especially because of the deaths of members from their rival groups.
Did I run for my dear life? No. I ran for dear life. The idiomatic expression “run for dear life” does not require the pronoun “my”.
During the last presidential election, Ngozi ran for her dear life after the ballot box was hijacked. (Wrong)
During the last presidential election, Ngozi ran for dear life after the ballot box was hijacked. (Correct)
Be mindful of the correct expression!
An Accident or Accident?
One noun that we often ignore the article for is ‘accident’ when we are referring to an unfortunate incident, which may be fatal or gruesome.
While traveling to Owerri, the students had accident. (Wrong)
While traveling to Owerri, the students had an accident. (Correct)
Whenever you are referring to one accident, add the correct article, which is ‘an’.
Other expressions are written below:
Unfortunately, I almost had an accident while traveling home last December.
What is an accident?
Cast a Vote or Casted a Vote?
One of the grammatical blunders I heard during the general elections was ‘I casted my vote’. Even guest speakers confidently use the non-existent word. English is not a straightforward language; there are too many exceptions.
So, the rule that states that the past tense of ‘cheat’ is ‘cheat’ contradicts the rule that emphasizes that the past tense of ‘cast’ is ‘casted’. As a matter of fact, its past participle is also ‘cast’.
Study the following sentences:
Have you cast your vote?
Segun, Emmanuel, and Mohammed have cast their votes.
My friend had cast his vote before I arrived.
Assignment
Attempt the following questions:
1. Has Sandra ______ her vote? (a) cast (b) casted (c) casting
2. The baby _____ her balloons. (a) bursted (b) burst (c) bursting
3. The information ______ her mind. (a) skimmed (b) skipped (c) slipped
Kindly forward your answers to samueltolulopealimi@gmail.com or 07049203179 via SMS.
Names of those who answered the last questions correctly.
Bolanle Victory, Bala Mohammed, Sulaimon Alli, Eze Jeremiah, Genesis Solomon, Akinola Abisola, Omotola Joseph, Jeremiah Akintunde, Victoria Isaiah, Edward Isreal, Edward Lydia, Samuel Jackson, Darasimi Olawale, Daniel Uchenna, Femi Olarewaju, Philemon Adaeze, Chukwudi Chukwuma, Segun Aderenle, Omotola Pitan, Gbolade Aderinigbe and Victory Praise.
