English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
COMMONLY MISUSED WORDS
The man had a ~fatal~ accident and it was just by God’s grace he survived it (nonstandard).
The man had a ghastly accident and it was just by God’s grace he survived it (standard). A fatal accident or illness causes someone’s death while a horrifying or shocking experience is said to be ghastly.
The fatal accident resulted in the death of three persons. ✔️
He ~corroborated~ with him on numerous projects (nonstandard).
He collaborated with him on numerous projects (standard). To collaborate is to work in partnership while to corroborate is to give support to a statement, theory or finding.
There is need to corroborate the Professor’s last statement. ✔️
GAB
