WRONG LEXICAL CHOICES

English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)

WRONG LEXICAL CHOICES

Breakfast isn’t ready but ~in the main time~, you can have a cup of coffee (nonstandard).
Breakfast isn’t ready but in the meantime, you can have a cup of coffee (standard).
Do not confuse “in the meantime” for “in the main”; the latter is used to mean “generally”, or that a statement is true in most cases or at most times:
In the main, Yoruba are tolerant of other tribes.

You should discard foods after their ~expiring date~ (nonstandard).
You should discard food after their expiry date (standard).
You should discard food after their expiration date (standard).

Some people naturally possess ~occultic~ power (nonstandard).
Some people naturally possess occult power (standard).
GAB