COMMON ERRORS

English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)

COMMON ERRORS

Reading this short extract will ~wet~ your appetite (nonstandard).
Reading this short extract will whet your appetite (standard). If someone or something whets your appetite for a particular thing, they increase your desire to have it or know about it, especially by giving you an idea of what it is like.

I don’t like associating myself with ~roughians~ (nonstandard).
I don’t like associating myself with ~rouffians~ (nonstandard).
I don’t like associating myself with ruffians (standard). A ruffian is someone who behaves violently and is involved in crime.

The ~brain~ behind the success we all see is Abikoye (nonstandard).
The ~brain box~ behind the success we all see is Abikoye (nonstandard).
The brains behind the success we all see is Abikoye (standard).
A member of a group who is regarded as its intellectual leader or planner is the brains.
GAB