English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
I paid the money ~instalmentally~ (nonstandard).
I paid the money *in installments* (standard).
If you pay for something in instalments, you pay small sums of money at regular intervals over a period of time, rather than paying the whole amount at once. You can also pay by instalments. The word, instalmentally, is non-existent in English.
I reported the case to the leader ~severally~ (nonstandard).
I reported the case to the leader *several times* (standard).
Although Online Oxford Dictionary now recognises its meaning as “several times” in Nigerian English, the popular meaning of “severally” is “separately, rather than as a member of a group:
All guests are considered to have *severally* agreed to these conditions. ✅
In law, if partners make an agreement jointly and severally, they share all rights and responsibilities equally, and if any partner is unable to share in a responsibility, the others become responsible for that partner’s share:
All members of the partnership are jointly and severally liable for the debt. ✅
GAB
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