English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
Avoid the -ing
Many of them are picking pockets (nonstandard).
Many of them are pickpockets (standard). A person who steals from people’s pockets is a pickpocket.
We were at the playing ground (nonstandard).
We were at the playground (standard).
She started to feel panicking and breathless (nonstandard).
She started to feel panicky and breathless (standard).
GAB
