English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
Using Words Wrongly
I saw a ~bogus~ house on that street (nonstandard).
I saw a big house on that street (standard). Something is bogus when it is not genuine or true:
Stop making bogus promises (standard).
She’s dating one tall and ~lanky~ man who is well built. (nonstandard).
She’s dating one tall and hefty man who is well built (standard). To be lanky is to be ungracefully thin and tall and not to be well built.
Just look straight down; he’s ~adjacent~ where you are (nonstandard).
Just look straight down; he’s opposite where you are (standard). Adjacent means to be very near or next to; not to be opposite.
GAB