Precise Diction

🚫 “I’m on transit” is incorrect !

✅ “I’m in transit” is the RIGHT way to say it!

You might have said:

“Sorry, I can’t talk now. I’m on transit.” ❌

She’s on transit to Abuja. ❌

But that’s incorrect.
Here’s how to say it properly:

✅ I’m in transit, I’ll call you when I arrive.
✅ She’s currently in transit to Abuja.
✅ Our goods are still in transit.

🔍 “In transit” means you (or something) are in the process of traveling from one place to another — not yet at your destination.

So next time you're moving from point A to B, remember:
🚫 on transit
✅ in transit

Let’s keep speaking smart and sounding polished.

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🔹 "I look forward to" vs "I'm looking forward to" — What Comes Next?

These two expressions are often used when you’re excited or expecting something to happen. But what form of the verb should follow?

Here’s the key: Whether you say "I look forward to" or "I’m looking forward to," the verb that comes after must end in -ing (the gerund form).

Why? Because the word "to" here is not part of the infinitive (like "to eat" or "to go"). Instead, it's a preposition, and when a preposition is followed by a verb, that verb must take the -ing form.

✅ Correct: I’m looking forward to meeting you.

❌ Wrong: I’m looking forward to meet you.

✅ Correct: I look forward to hearing from you.

❌ Wrong: I look forward to hear from you.

The choice between "I look forward to" and "I'm looking forward to" depends on tone.

The simple form (I look forward to) sounds more formal and is often used in writing, especially in emails or letters.

The continuous form (I'm looking forward to) feels a bit more casual and conversational.
So whichever one you choose, just remember: “to” is a preposition here, and it must be followed by a verb ending in -ing.

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What if I tell you vs What if I told you What’s the real difference?

Here’s the simple truth: both expressions are correct but the difference is semantic,i.e. in the meaning or intention of the speaker.

Let's examine the statements more closely.

👉🏽 “What if I tell you...” is used when the situation is real or likely to happen. You're talking about something that can actually happen now or soon. It sounds more direct and present.

Examples:
What if I tell you the truth right now?

What if I tell you I’ve already handled it?

👉🏽 “What if I told you” is used when you want the person to imagine something (It’s hypothetical). The situation may not be happening : it’s more like a thought, an idea, or a surprise. It sounds reflective or deep.
Examples:

What if I told you everything you believe is wrong?

What if I told you this is just the beginning?

✔️ So yes, the first sounds real and possible, while the second sounds imaginary or thoughtful.

Now you know which one to use , and when!

Follow for more.

Say it right ✅️

Did you know that there are tautological expressions or statements that, despite their redundancy, are grammatically acceptable (and sometimes stylistically appropriate or idiomatic), especially within British English usage?
We will consider four examples in this lesson. Each includes a reference and common example usage .

1. "Free gift"
Tautology: A gift is inherently free.
Usage: Common in marketing and advertisements.
Example:“Get a free gift when you buy two bottles.”
Reference: Oxford Learner’s Dictionary.

2. "Return back"
Tautology: "Return" already implies going back.
Usage: Used in spoken and informal British English.
Example: “He returned back to London last week.”
Reference: Collins Dictionary lists it as common in informal speech.

3. "Advance warning"
Tautology: A warning is, by nature, given in advance.
Usage: Widely accepted in official and safety contexts.
Example:“The government gave advance warning of the attacks.”
Reference: Cambridge Dictionary of English Language.

4. "Past history"
Tautology: History refers to the past by definition.
Usage: Frequently used in academic or medical records.
Reference: Used in medical English — e.g., “past medical history”
“He had a past history of heart disease.”

(NHS Medical Records Terminology)

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(Precise Diction)

GRAMMAR TODAY.

1.I am hearing you clearly.❌
2.She is knowing the answer.❌
Why are the above structures wrong?

The verbs hearing, schooling, seeing, feeling, and others like them belong to a category called stative verbs.
🔹 What Are Stative Verbs?
Stative verbs describe a state rather than an action. They tell us about:
what someone feels

what someone knows

what someone wants

what someone sees, hears, smells, etc.

These verbs describe conditions, thoughts, emotions, or senses — things that usually do not change quickly.
🔹 Why Can’t We Use Them in the Progressive (Continuous) Tense?
The progressive tense (e.g. am seeing, is hearing, are knowing) is used for actions that are happening right now or temporary situations.
But stative verbs usually refer to something ongoing or permanent, so it sounds strange to put them in the progressive form.

👉 For example:
I am hearing you clearly.❌
I hear you clearly.✅

She is knowing the answer.❌
She knows the answer.✅

We are seeing the mountain.❌
We see the mountain.✅

🔹 Common Categories of Stative Verbs
Here’s a breakdown with examples:
1. Senses (Perception) hear, see, smell, taste, feel (when it means emotion or passive experience)
I am hearing music.❌
I hear the music.✅

She is seeing the bird.❌
She sees the bird.✅

This soup is tasting good.❌
This soup tastes good.✅

2. Emotions and Feelings
love, hate, like, prefer, want, need,etc.

I love chocolate.✅
I am loving chocolate.❌

She prefers tea.✅
She is preferring tea.❌

(Note: "I'm loving it" is used in advertising — McDonald’s slogan — but it's not grammatically standard.)

3. Thoughts and Opinions
know, believe, understand, remember, think (when it means opinion)

I know the answer.✅
I am knowing the answer.❌

She believes in herself.✅
She is believing in herself.❌

We understand the rule.✅
We are understanding the rule.❌

4. Possession and Being
have (when it means possession)
own, belong, be
I have a cold.🟢
I am having a cold.🔴

This phone belongs to me.🟢
This phone is belonging to me.🔴
She is kind.🟢
She is being kind.🔴 (Used only in temporary behaviour)

Exceptions and Confusions
Some verbs can be both stative and action verbs, depending on the meaning.
Example: "feel"
Stative:
✅ I feel sad. (emotion — permanent state)

Action:
✅ I’m feeling the fabric. (physical action — temporary)

Example: "see"
Stative:
✅ I see your point. (understand — mental state)

Action:
✅ I’m seeing the doctor tomorrow. (meeting — planned action)

In Simple Terms:
If a verb describes how you think, feel, see, hear, own, or believe, don’t use it in -ing form unless it’s about a temporary action.

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Precise Diction.

GRAMMAR TODAY

“Let's discuss about the issue at hand.” ❌

What's wrong?

The phrase "discuss about" is not a case of tautology (which is the unnecessary repetition of meaning, like "free gift" or "return back"), but rather a case of wrong use of a preposition after a transitive verb.

To clarify:

Transitive verbs are action verbs that require a direct object to complete their meaning. Because the object directly follows the verb, there is usually no need for a preposition between them.

Examples:
1. Discuss about the issue.❌
Discuss the issue.✅
2.Order for a drink.❌
Order a drink.✅
3.Request for a refund.❌
Request a refund.✅
4. Affect on the result.❌
Affect the result.✅
5.Seek for advice.❌
Seek advice.✅

Summary:
Transitive verbs typically do not require prepositions between them and their objects. When a preposition is added unnecessarily, the result is grammatically incorrect.

However, in different constructions (es
pecially when the verb is part of a phrasal verb or when a different meaning is intended), a preposition may follow — but in that case, the verb might be functioning intransitively or idiomatically.

For example:
She reads about history (here, “reads” isn't directly acting on “history,” but referring to a topic — so “about” is appropriate).

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Let's discuss about the issue at hand.

🇺🇸 Toward or 🇬🇧 Towards?

Let’s clear the confusion.

Both mean "in the direction of" and are 100% correct. The only difference? Where you are.

TOWARD = American English
TOWARDS = British English

Examples with toward:
– She walked toward the exit.
– His attitude toward learning changed.

Examples with towards:
– The kids ran towards the park.
– He’s always polite towards strangers.

💡 Quick Tip:
Just be consistent. Stick to one form based on your audience.

✳️ Similar words:
into | onto | upon | forward/forwards

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