English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
EXPRESSIONS USED IN PAIRS
Everyone desires a better Nigeria, but ~on the other hand~ we all want to leave the country (nonstandard).
On the one hand, everyone desires a better Nigeria, but on the other hand we all want to leave the country (standard).
Note that you cannot use “on the other hand” if you have not presented a first clause which uses “on the one hand”. “On the other hand” could also be shortened as “on the other”.
~I stand to be corrected~, the government of this country has failed us (nonstandard).
Correct me if I’m wrong, the government of this country has failed us (standard).
The pair of expressions are “correct me if I’m wrong” and “I stand corrected”. When you use the initial statement, “correct me if I’m wrong”, then realise you are not correct, then you say “I stand corrected”.
GAB
