In my journalism career, spanning over several years, the choice of vocabularies, I have discovered, can be narrowed down to the specific media outfit one works for or plies the trade; expecially where certain grammatical expression appears to be controversial in its usage among the language bigots. Where this occur, some of the media establishments hide under, what the experts described as house or office style, to absolve themselves from blame of incorrect usage of the word or statement. This has been the case from the beginning of time, in fact, when journalism became a professional practice.
However, the fact remains that, so long as the accepted standard of the language is never compromised or toyed with, some of these disputed grammar have a way of being embraced, or find their way into the reference books. Often, the dictionary, for example, would tell you, the choice is yours to make. American and British spellings and pronunciation fall under the category of words or statements that leave many to ponder about as to who to trust, or that which is right. Again, the favourite of the media organisation concerned becomes the standard. Among the most stands out expressions that are hotly debated between the English purists and masters over the correct application, are the adjectives and verbs, “single-handed” and “single-minded.”
Stretching it further, the verbs, “single-handedly” and “single-mindedly” are the most topical, and caught in the arguments. But, before I go full swing to prove whether the two adverbs, “single-handedly” and “single-mindedly” are appropriate to be engaged, or that we stop at the adjectives, “single-handed” and “single-minded,” in constructing our vocabularies. Again, let’s understand the meaning of the two phrases, “single-handed” and “single-minded,” to draw our conclusion. According to Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, the grammar, “single-handed,” implies when something is done or carried out by oneself, without help from others. In this case, for example, “John carried out his given task, without help from anybody.”
Or that, “Elizabeth single-handed plaited her hair without asking for help from her friend, Jane.” Similarly, the same dictionary states that, the expression, “single-minded,” an adverb, is to determinedly pursue one’s specific aim or object alone. In other words, and to state it clearly, for instance, “Jane was determined to follow her career single-minded without seeking for her friends opinion.” Where the quarrel emanates, is the strong position taken by some of the English pundits who insist that the right engagement of the phrase, especially for reported speech, should be the adverb, “single-handedly, and not the adjective, ” single-handed.”
In the same vein, the adverb, “single-handedly” should apply when reporting the feat performed by a single person without help from others. Who are the losers? If I may ask. Of course, the listening and reading publics; they are left stranded, or placed in the middle of the argument, not knowing exactly who to follow or trust. For some, the option is to shift between “single-handed,” single-minded,” and “single-handedly,” and “single-mindedly.” For the writers, journalists and the reporters, and in keeping with their respective office or house styles, either of the two, “single-handed,” “single-handedly ” and “single-mindedly,” apply. For me, I share with the opinion of the language enthusiasts who, in consent with the 21st century English, root for the adverbs, “single-handedly” and “single-mindedly,” to prove that one performed his or task without any assistance from others.
Wherever your mind directs you between the two choices, “single-handed,” and “single-handedly,” please, use, so long as you’re communicating to the understanding of the audience. But when we talk of currency in vocabulary, go for the verbs, “single-handedly,” and “single-mindedly.” After all, the language is dynamic, but seek after the popular and trending English, even as one makes effort to read wide, just as one listens to radio and watch the television to get updates of the News as they break; so, the language also changes with space and time.
