English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
More on S’s
She was too hungry to pay attention to ~table manner~ (nonstandard).
She was too hungry to pay attention to *table manners* (standard).
The way you eat your food, or the socially acceptable way to eat your food, especially when eating a meal with others is called table manners.
The chairman helped a number of persons through his ~good office~ (nonstandard).
The chairman helped a number of persons through his *good offices* (nonstandard).
Someone’s good offices are the help that they give to other people who are trying to achieve something.
Some parents ~take side~ when their children quarrel (nonstandard).
Some parents *take sides* when their children argue (standard).
To support one group, opinion, etc, as against another is to take sides.
GAB
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