English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
BOOKS; NOT BOOK
The company has closed the ~book~ for the first quarter of the year (nonstandard).
The company has closed the books for the first quarter of the year (standard). If you close the books, you balance accounts in order to prepare a statement or report.
Many young persons are busy with social media when they should be hitting the book (nonstandard).
Many young persons are busy with social media when they should be hitting the books (standard). To hit the books is to study.
The Advent of COVID-19 is one for the book (nonstandard).
The Advent of COVID-19 is one for the books (standard). One for the books is an idiom for saying something is surprising or unexpected.
GAB
