English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
COMMON ERRORS
He was fired for collecting ~bribe~ (nonstandard).
He was fired for collecting a bribe (standard). Note that “bribe” is a countable noun.
He is ~strongheaded~ (nonstandard).
He has ~strong head~ (nonstandard).
He is headstrong (standard).
If you refer to someone as headstrong, you are slightly critical of the fact that they are determined to do what they want.
She got the document ~under false pretence~ (nonstandard).
She got the document under false pretences (standard). If you do something under false pretences, you do it when people do not know the truth about you and your intentions.
GAB
