Interestingly, many of us fall into the baggage and garbage trap not because we indulge in the kind of mountainous words for which Patrick Obahiagbon is famous. We err because we use some prepositions with certain verbs when they (verbs) do not need such to make sense. Prepositions are a very important word class, but there are situations in which they are simply useless. Because many of us are familiar with an expression like ‘enter into an agreement with someone’, every time we want to use the verb, ‘enter’, we still add ‘into’ to it. Hence, a lot of people say, ‘He has entered into the room’. This is wrong because when the word means get into a place, physically speaking (not like gaining admission), ‘into’ is not required: As soon as D’Banj entered into the hall, his fans began to yell. (Wrong) As soon as D’Banj entered the hall, his fans began to yell. (Correct) There are other verbs that are notoriously burdened with needless prepositions, some of which we have indirectly identified in this class. Consider the example of ‘comprise’. Perhaps because we have ‘consist of’, a lot of people are fond of saying ‘comprise of. This is wrong. As you have in entail and encompass, ‘of’ is not a companion of ‘comprise’. The team comprises of five boys and six girls. (Wrong) The team comprises five boys and six girls. (Correct) Another important word in the category is ‘emphasise’, which does not need ‘on’ or ‘upon’. The same thing, of course, applies to ‘stress’: The President emphasised on the need to sustain the fight against terror. (Wrong) The President emphasised the need to sustain the fight against terror. (Correct) Do you remember the issue of ‘discuss about’? We have dwelt on it on one or two occasions. (Remember the spelling of ‘occasion’ too.) What is popularly said and written is ‘discuss about’. This is wrong because the scope of ‘discuss’ already covers ‘about’. So, try as much as possible to leave it out accordingly: Many of the lawmakers always discuss about their own welfare. (Wrong) Many of the lawmakers always discuss their own welfare. (Correct) The last category is rather large. It is the one that involves wrongly attaching ‘for’ to a number of verbs that are self sustaining. Here, again, old members of this class will remember some of the words in question, as we have referred to them in the past. They include request, demand, order, solicit and seek. Normally, you do not need ‘for’ after them: The commissioner advocated for the regeneration of cocoa economy (Wrong) The commissioner advocated the regeneration of cocoa economy. (Correct) The workers are requesting for salary increase. (Wrong) The workers are requesting salary increase. (Correct) The driver ordered for a plate of rice and seven pieces of meat. (Wrong) The driver ordered a plate of rice and seven pieces of meat. (Correct) The parties are seeking for the postponement of the election date. (Wrong) The parties are seeking the postponement of the election date. African leaders are soliciting for debt cancellation. (Wrong) African leaders are soliciting debt cancelation. (Correct). Note, however, that when the verbs or their variants are used as nouns, it is often a must that you use the prepositions with them. So, the following expressions are correct: His entry into the room made many people happy. The emphasis on community participation is understandable. The discussion about electoral reforms generated controversy. Genevieve turned down my request for friendship. Their demand for private jets is outrageous. Everybody was surprised at his order for five wraps of eba. The advocacy for reforms is gaining ground. Soliciting for help is the wise thing.]]>
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