Quoting one of the language purists, “These ungrammatical expressions and out-dated constructions mean great impediments to clarity in the use of English.” His advised? Try and find better alternatives for them. Ungrammatical vocabularies constitute a great deal of burden and act as barrier to understanding the language. Semantically, they are classified as noise in grammar, especially when it becomes too difficult to comprehend what the author or writer wants to bring to the knowledge of the reading and listening publics, in which case, people begin to give different interpretations to the message.
For this reason, the language appears complicated and lacks the necessary ingredients of simplicity or plain writing for the learners, and for those who English is second language. When we write, courtesy and consideration should not be overlooked. Let’s consider the fact that we are addressing the publics without leaving out or sidelining any segment of the society. Show courtesy by way of empathising with the reading community who are overstretched by life challenges. They need soft and entertaining vocabularies that would keep them in the right mood, soothing and humorous.
Difficult or bombastic English would rather scare them, and put them off, talk less of ungrammatical phrases that act as barrier to understanding the language; meaning that the word is somehow lost, thereby giving rise to speculations and various interpretations of the author’s letter or missive by those it is meant for or directed at. How about keeping it simple devoid of jargons and long winding sentences. The acronym “Kiss,” should always guide the writer; keep it short and simple, and if may add, straight to the point. What are the ungrammatical constructions we ought to be careful about when trying to put together our thoughts or opinions, especially those meant for public consumption?
There are several of them that would push us to look for their replacements or better alternatives to match the occasion or event we are writing about, and the audience one is targeting. That is where to start. Is it an exclusive or closed audience where jargons can be tolerated and entertained? Then go ahead with your scientific writing, for instance. In most cases, even right now, science writing that talks about technological breakthroughs is no longer meant for a narrow populace; it demands therefore that, the tasks of the reporter or journalist is to water down scientific vocabularies for a larger audience to comprehend.
And so, even at that, the phrases, “at every nook and corner,” “to be able to function well,” “appreciate the plain home truth,” “my advice is to let bye-gone be bye-gone,” “point accusing finger on,” “during the pandemonium and hullabalo,” “don’t play hocus-pocus with me,” and more, are considered by the English purists and masters as not only wasteful, but out-dated expressions. Do well to be current and grammatically relevant. More of these ungrammatical statements would be made known to put you on the watch as we navigate through suitable replacements for them.
