The way we speak and
write or communicate
our ideas and opinions
go a long way towards
(correct usage), in (in-
correct) exposing our understanding
of the English language. Often times
we imitate and are influenced by what
we hear or see on radio and television
and read in the newspaper and mag-
azine, among other communications
platform.
The media for example have been
bombarding us with the expres-
sions, “Canvass for,” “Advocate for”
and “Come 2019” etc. wrongly used
though, but has made a lasting im-
pression on our minds as if it has
become a standard English. I have
always advocated (not advocated for),
through this medium that we try to
dishonour the standard English or
bend the rules to suit us, instead as
writers we should keep strictly to the
guidelines of the Newsman’s English,
if I may say so, to communicate better.
Take note that the “advocate for”
phrase that pops up now and then,
made popular by the press, both elec-
tronic and the print, has all this while
been wrongly used by some writers,
journalists and reporters. The correct
usage, when we want to express our-
selves with the noun “advocate,” we
can simply write or speak, for exam-
ple, “Civil rights groups have advocat-
ed the abolition of the death sentence
in Nigeria.” Not “Civil rights groups
have advocated for the abolition of
the death sentence in Nigeria.” Again,
shun the “advocated for” statement. It
is a misnomer in the spoken or writ-
ten English.
Another phrasal summersault wide-
ly abused and has become an embar-
rassment to advocates of the standard
English or the purists and masters of
the language is the expression, “Can-
vass for.” We hear it every day on our
radio and television stations and read
them in newspapers. Many of our
writers, journalists and reporters still
stick to the expression, “canvass for”
when they can simply write and cor-
rectly speak, “The Nigerian Labour
Congress (NLC) has canvassed the clo-
sure of companies that employ or re-
tain Nigerians as casual workers.” You
will be wrong if you write or speak,
“The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC)
has canvassed for the closure of com-
panies that employ or retain Nigerians
as casual workers.”
One can also write and speak, espe-
cially for the headline writer, “Poli-
ticians canvass playing level field for
contestants.” Don’t write, “Politicians
canvass for playing level field for con-
testants.” Or this, “The Nigerian Bar
Association, (NBA) advocates trans-
parency in the conduct of elections in
the country.” You will be wrong if you
write, “The Nigerian Bar Association,
(NBA) advocates for transparency in
the conduct of elections in the coun-
try.”
“Come 2019” is yet another expres-
sion repeatedly abused when we speak
or write. The media are not spared ei-
ther as they churn out the phrase in
their news bulletins recklessly. “Come
Sunday,” or “come any day” of the
week, month or year is un-English. You
can correctly write or speak, “In 2019”
or “on Sunday” or any day of the week,
this or that would take place. Never
again speak or write, “Come 2020” this
or that event would begin.
I must commend some of our media
houses for living up to the billings and
for sparing no efforts in keeping faith
with the standard English as taught us
by the British. Anything else is to fake
it, and unacceptable.
Do remember to get the reworked
e-Book version of English for Com-
municators: Pitfalls and Blind Spots on
www.englishforcommunicators.com
click on book store and download.
You can also access it on Amazon.com
DKP or on Kobo click on mike echi ac-
count and download.
On a rather sad note, we commensu-
rate with the Osuomor family on the
passing of Sir Peter Obiaderi Osuo-
mor (KSJI) at the age of 66 years. The
remains of Sir Osuomor who, during
his life time, worked tirelessly for the
realization of Church projects under
St. Cyprian’s Catholic Church, New
Oko-Oba, Agege, will be buried in
his home town, Agbor in Delta State
after a requiem mass at the Catho-
lic Church of Presentation, Ekoro
Road, Abule-Egba, Alimosho, Lagos
State. May the soul of our brother
and friend, Sir Peter Osuomor and
the souls of all the faithful departed
through the mercy of God rest in
peace. Amen
