Category: Lest We Forget

have a bath vs take a bath

EnglishNaija

When you hear people say have a bath or take a bath, what do you think? That one is correct and the other is not? Not at all. They’re both correct, and here’s why: In this context, bath is always a noun in American English but both a noun and a verb in British English. American Americans naturally say take a bath to mean wash oneself in a tub of water and use bathe as the verb form. They however use have a shower when talking about a wedding shower, but not in the sense of…

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cannot or can not: the simple rules

EnglishNaija

The difference between cannot and can not is confusing to a number of English language users. Despite that, there are simple rules to remember when you’re in a dilemma. Both cannot and can not are acceptable but usually used differently. cannot cannot is an auxiliary verb that is much more usual as the opposite of can. When you describe an ‘impossible’ situation, use cannot. Its contraction is can’t. Examples: I can do the dishes but he cannot. If I say I can, I will: if I say I cannot, I…

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loggerhead vs loggerheads

EnglishNaija

The words ‘loggerhead’ and ‘loggerheads’ belong to the same part of speech (nouns) but have different meanings. loggerhead A type of turtle with a large head. A shrike (a type of bird) with mainly grey feathers and black eyestripe (head’s stripe which encloses or seems to run through the eyes), wings, and tail. (old-fashioned) A foolish person.   loggerheads It is usually used as a prepositional phrase: at loggerheads. When you’re at loggerheads with someone, you strongly disagree with them or you’re in a violent dispute with them. Examples: We…

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everyday vs every day: how not to be confused

EnglishNaija

‘Everyday’ and ‘every day’ are both correct but used in different contexts, and research shows some of us confuse them. This is what we should know: every day This is a phrase that means each day. Here, every and day are two separate words. Examples: We saw each other every day for six years. Maria will do the dishes every day for the next three weeks. Just think of every as an adjective modifying the noun day. Similar phrases are: every man, every house, every phone, every step. You can…

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Judgement or judgment

EnglishNaija

Ever wonder why ‘judgement’ and ‘judgment’ are both correct? This is the answer: In British English, ‘judgement’ is the general correct spelling and applicable in everyday English. However, ‘judgment’ is preferred in legal context. In American English, ‘judgment’ is the correct spelling. This implies that the spelling used only in legal context in British English is what’s generally used in American English. Both spellings are said to have been in existence for a long time, but Noah Webster helped popularize ‘judgment’ when he compiled the American English dictionary, just like…

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