English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
Use of English
Back in the ~days~ , he used to smoke (nonstandard).
Back in the day , he used to smoke (standard). The expression, back in the day, is used to mean a time in the past.
The couple were just trying to ~put~ up appearances for the children (nonstandard).
The couple were just trying to keep up appearances for the children (standard). If you keep up appearances, you try to behave in a way that people expect of you, even if you can no longer afford it.
GAB
