The ManicaPost
Morris Mtisi
Experts say you must repeat something 21 times before it becomes a habit. The same is true about unlearning a habit. Common errors in English are bad habits that can be unlearned. Do it, say it, write it the correct way 21 times and the habit of correct use and usage is permanent.
Do not write or say, “The jealousy man killed his wife . . .” The word you want to use here is ‘‘jealous’’. We talk about a jealous man . . . not a ‘‘jealousy man.’’ Jealous is an adjective that qualifies or describes the noun ‘‘man.’’ ‘‘Jealousy’’ is itself a noun. It cannot qualify another noun ‘‘man’’. He is full of jealousy (Correct). Emphasise the ‘‘y’’ in ‘‘jealousy’’ and keep to the clear ‘‘s’’ sound in ‘‘jealous.’’ You will never experience problems with the malapropism (inability to differentiate word because they sound exactly the same) if you pronounce the two correctly and distinctly.
Do not go to a funeral and apologise to the bereaved as if you killed their loved one, ‘‘Oh, I ‘m very sorry . . . terribly sorry.’’
What do you say? “Sad news indeed! . . . Oh, how sad it is! When did it happen? Was she ill? For how long was she ill? . . . in hospital . . . battling with cancer?” etc. You find questions to ask and express how sad the loss . . . the death is, that is if you are the talking type. But you never apologise! Never! I repeat, do not say, ‘‘I’m sorry!’’
Some people are in the habit of saying to the bereaved, ‘‘Oh, shame!’’ You say this to someone who has done something shameful . . . something embarrassing.
Losing a loved one is not shameful. So never say ‘‘Shame’’ to the bereaved. It is politer to use your mother tongue, Shona, Ndau, Ndebele, Venda to express condolences, than to attempt English and say the wrong thing. It is always better to use the vernacular. It succinctly and genuinely expresses your shared feelings. It is more appropriate and unmistakable. Do not use the English language if you are not sure what it means or what you are saying.
We do not close windows and doors. We shut them. What we close must have an inside . . . some cavity . . . space where we can enclose something; for example, a box, a tin, suitcase, bin etc. If this explanation does not readily make sense, simply know ‘‘we shut doors and windows’’ . . . not close them. It will save you a lot of thinking.
Have you heard people who speak or write, “This is a ‘must’?” Electricity is a must in town. This book is a must. These are not English expressions. First, there is nothing called ‘‘a must’’ in English language. Second, it is a must-what? Electricity is a must-have in town (Correct). The book is a must-read (Correct).
When you use colours to describe objects . . . shirts, caps, shoes, jerseys, pieces of cloth etc, you do not add ‘‘in colour’’ at the end. Her skirt is orange in colour (Wrong). The shirt she stole was blue in colour (Wrong). Her skirt is orange (Correct). The shirt she stole was blue (Correct). Orange is a colour, and so are blue, yellow, green, all of them. Do not add ‘‘. . . in colour.’’ We already know it is a colour. This applies to the word ‘‘complexion’’. We do not say, “Abigail is dark in complexion, she is light in complexion.” We already know you are referring to complexion. Simply say or write ‘‘She is dark-skinned, light skinned.’’ You can ask though, “What is Susan’s complexion?” However, the answer will not have ‘. . . in complexion’’ at the end.
That is enough for habit formation for one lesson and for one week. Every repeated common error is always someone else’s first-to-hear or learn. I will always repeat these common errors to awaken new learners and of course to reinforce correct usage to the old or regular learners.
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You may save yourself some terrible embarrassment in speech or writing. Students! This may make all the difference between an A and B in your English language examination results.
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