Reason why; Reason is because.
Sir, “The reason why” is Queens’s English, British English and correct English. It is found in Standard English texts and spoken by good speakers of the English Language.
On the other hand, ‘The reason___” is Americanism; ellipsis by Americans. It does not render “The reason why” incorrect or obsolete. Nevertheless, thanks a lot for your effort in public Education. I confess that I am one of your long time students.-+2348171172484.
Usage Notes: “Reason or why” should be followed by “is that” (Not “reason is because”) Example: The reason Editors make grammatical mistakes is that they don’t read current books on usage. “Why”, however is superfluous and should be omitted. “The reason why” is rubbish, utter nonsense!
Besides, “reason”, often unnecessary followed by “because” rather than “that” or “is that”, e.g. “The reason I am late is because there was a traffic jam” is incorrect. “The reason____ is because” is always incorrect. E.g. “The reason for the delay is because we have had difficulty in obtaining materials”. Amend to: The reason is that we had have difficulty in obtaining materials.
Similarly incorrect are “the reason is because of” or “the reason is due to”. “The delay is due to our having difficulties in obtaining materials” is correct. Because you hadn’t a ticket is no reason why you should be refused admission”. Again that is incorrect. Change it to: “The fact that you hadn’t a ticket or ‘you shouldn’t have been refused admission merely because you hadn’t a ticket”.
Lest you forget, it is the priest of usage (from the priest hood) who have the final authority on usage and not the lexicographers – dictionary makers!
The entire deposits or all the deposits?
In the Micro Finance Bank (MFB and Primary Mortage Institution (PMI) Sub-Sectors, for example, ‘the entire” (all) credits are far above the deposits. What Umaru Ibrahim described as over-lending actually means that “the entire” (all) deposits made by customers ad been lent out to borrowers. Where the loans “collaterized” (collaterized)?
The monies or the moneys?
Such investigation should also determine whether the facilities were properly processed in line with credit principles, policies, laws and regulations; whether the “monies” (money or moneys) were appropriately deployed for the declared purposes; the certainty of sources of repayment; and that they were adequate collaterals. – The Guardial Editorial, March 7, 2017. Special notes on usage: “Entire”, like “whole”, is strictly used with a singular noun, E.g. the entire/whole nation but “all nations”. The most amusing oddity in English is that “money” is classified uncountable. But in Banking and Finance, “money” has the plural “moneys” (Not “monies” which is the plural of “MONY”!). I repeat, “money”-moneys; mony-monies.
Dispatch or dispatch?
We condemn the gruesome killings in Ile-Ife, but we are also concerned that the police have not acted with the same “dispatch” (dispatch) in dealing wit crises in other parts of the country.
After all, the police should only be interested in justice for all, not an undue punishment for the accused locals, who are deemed innocent until “proven” (proved) guilty. – THE NATION EDITORIAL, March 26, 2017.
Note: “innocent until proved guilty” is a fixed phrase.
Cap to match or a matching?
Spotting a cream colour babanriga and “cap to match” (a matching cap),one of the first assignment president Muhammadu Buhari carried out on his oral-shaped office table was to sign a letter intimating the national assembly of his resumption.
He met with or he met the vice president?
He “met with’(met) the vice president, professor yemi osibanjo, who Buhari gave a few directives on the economy, budget and the north-east after the latter had briefed him on what had transpired in the seven weeks he was away on medical vacation
Enquiry or inquiry?
On that particular day, Lai Mohammed, was dressed in black suit instead of the usual agbada. To the president’s “enquiry” (inquiry), the minister of Information quickly responded, “I am here sir”.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), which was in Abuja to attend the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, had to take some time off to “meet with” (meet) the President.
Muslim staff or Muslim members of staff?
President Buhari had to go round the Hall to have handshakes with all the Governors in attendance. Unlike “last week Friday” (last Friday/on Friday, last week or last Friday week), President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday observed the Jumaat prayer in the State House Mosque situated close to his office.
Apart from many Muslim “Staff” (members of Staff/Staff members or Staffers), including top officials, joining him for the weekly prayer, some visitors from outside the Aso Rock Villa were also there.- THE NATION, March 18, 2017. Special notes on grammar and usage: “The President (or Mr. President) met the Vice president” is referred to “The President/Mr. President met with or met up with the Vice President”.
“Enquire”: The preferred spelling is “inquire”, and “inquiry” is preferred to “enquiry”.
Enquire: inquiry. Please not that the verb is now usually spelt “enquire”. Besides, “enquire”, request for information is more often used in the plural form. E.g. all enquires to be made at the head office.
“Inquiry” means investigation, e.g. a court/commission of inquiry; an inquiry into the causes of an accident.
WORD OF ORDER (W.O): The normal order of words in English sentence is that the day precedes the month and the month precedes the year. E.g. we got our political independence from the British on Saturday, First of October, 1960. The Americans got their independence from the British on Thursday, July 4, 1776(July Fourth). The President came back from Britain last Friday week or on Fridays, last week (not “last week Friday”).
Lifetime or life?
There is no doubt that Chief Jeremiah Oyeniyi Obafemi Awolowo was a great Nigerian who was probably not appreciated in his “lifetime” (life or time). Note well: The seven intellectuals did not combine this attributes with what Awo represented in his life is correct (not “in his lifetime”).
Chief Emeka Anyaoku urged Nigerians, particularly media “practitioners” (professionals/managers/executives/consultant/men and women) to invoke Awo’s attitude assimilate them. Note well: We don’t somehow practice the media!
Dr. Idiat Adebule said the gathering was an opportunity for both new and old leaders to “rob” (meet) minds. – From THE NATION POLITICS Page, March 17, 2017. Special note on usage: Minds meet. We meet minds. There is a meeting of minds between the President and the Vice President, or between the Professor Banji Akintoye and Chief Emeka Anyaoku on the unity of Nigeria.