English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
OVERUSED MODIFIERS
- As a matter of fact: You hear this even when there is nothing factual about people’s points.
- Actually: Nigerians say this a lot even when there is nothing actual about what is being said.
- Generally speaking: We often use this expression even when we are speaking from the narrowest perspective.
- However: Only few of the people who deploy this word know that it should be used deployed when one hopes to show a contrast or to mean that something is the case regardless of any other thing.
- Before God and man: Although this expression is just a translation from some Nigerian languages and does not exist in the English language lexicon, it has become a mere cliché when Nigerians beg for trust.
Use sentencial modifiers sparingly.
GAB
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