English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
ENGLISH AND THE POLITY
Sowore’s arrest has put the country in shambles (nonstandard).
Sowore’s arrest has put the country in a shambles (standard).
I hope the government won’t seal up the revolutionary’s house (nonstandard).
I hope the government won’t seal off the revolutionary’s house (standard). To prevent people from entering an area is to seal it off while parcels such are envelopes are sealed up.
A revolutionary has to be a goal-getter (nonstandard).
A revolutionary has to be a go-getter (standard).
GAB
“In a shambles?”
Was that a mistake sir?
Not a mistake. That’s the right thing to say.