English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
GRAMMAR FOR A GREAT LINGUIST
Professor Harrison Adeniyi has been ~instrumental to~ my academic output (nonstandard).
Professor Harrison Adeniyi has been instrumental in my academic output (standard).
Professor Adeniyi is ~a renowned scholar and an administrator par excellence~ (nonstandard).
Professor Adeniyi is a renowned scholar and administrator par excellence (standard). When two nouns refer to the same person, the second does not attract an article.
He ~was a former president~ of the Linguistic Association of Nigeria (nonstandard).
He is a former president of the Linguistic Association of Nigeria (standard). The past verb should not be used with the adjective, “former” if the person being described is still alive.
Cheers to an amazing scholar on his birthday; ~hip, hip, hip, hooray~ (nonstandard)!
Cheers to an amazing scholar on his birthday; hip, hip, hooray (standard)!
GAB
