GRAMMAR FOR AGITATION

English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)

GRAMMAR FOR AGITATION

We all have to register our ~agitations~ over the poor state of education in every way we can (nonstandard).
We all have to register our agitation over the poor state of education in every way we can (standard).

The ~Buhari’s administration~ does not care about education (nonstandard).
The Buhari administration does not care about education (standard).
The Buhari-led administration does not care about education (standard).

The president is surrounded by ~mediocres~ who are either incompetent or cruel (nonstandard).
The president is surrounded by mediocrities who are either incompetent or cruel (standard).
The president is surrounded by mediocre people who are either incompetent or cruel (standard). Note that “mediocre” is an adjective while “mediocrity” is a noun.

We hope we have empathetic people at the ~helm of affairs~ of this country come 2023 (nonstandard).
We hope we have empathetic people at the helm of this country come 2023 (standard). You say that someone/people are at the helm when they are leading or running a country or organisation.
GAB