Gabriel Osoba

Errata
The following error has been found in last week’s publication of this column:
Correction
‘Are you a staff here?’ for ‘Are you a member of staff here?’
Note that a unit of staff is not referred to as ‘a staff’ but as ‘a member of staff’ (British English) or ‘staff member’ (American English). The correct expression is ‘Are you a member of staff here?’ A staff may refer to a long stick used as a support for walking or as a symbol of authority.

Covert        –        covet
Covert and covet are two different words. A single letter is often significant enough to mark the difference between one word and another. The presence or absence of ‘r’ marks the difference between the two words. Covert means ‘secret or hidden’. The opposite of covert is ‘overt’ which means ‘done in an open way not secretly’. Covet means ‘to want something very much, especially something that belongs to somebody else’. Do not confuse covert with covet.
Examples:
When I was in the secondary school, I had a covert hatred for our Mathematics teacher.
He stole a covert glance at the lady across the table.
You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife. (Exodus 20 vs 17)
Is there anyone who does not covet long life and prosperity?
I earnestly covet God’s grace in the life of Apostle Paul.

Cut your coat according to …
Many Nigerian users of English often say Cut your coat according to your size. This is a Nigerian variation of the English idiom Cut your coat according to your cloth. An idiom is a combination of words that have a figurative meaning that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made. Though idioms are often metaphorical and make the language more colourful, the words constituting them are fixed. The standard British equivalent of the Nigerian variation of the idiom is Cut your coat according to your cloth not “size’. Cut your coat according to your cloth means ‘to do only what you have enough money to do and no more’. In other words, ‘Let your expenditure be determined by your resources’.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AMERICAN AND BRITISH ENGLISH (VOCABULARY)
Apart from spelling differences, there are vocabulary differences between British and American English. Some words mean different things in the two varieties. Sometimes, different words are used for the same idea. Your dictionary will note whether the vocabulary item is used in British or American English. The following list represents such vocabulary differences between the two varieties of English.

AMERICAN ENGLISH (Am E)                                            BRITISH ENGLISH (Br E)

Truck                                                                                                         Lorry
Trunk                                                                                                         Boot
Apartment                                                                                               Flat
Bar                                                                                                              Pub
Cab                                                                                                              Taxi
Candy                                                                                                         Sweets
Closet                                                                                                         Cupboard
Crib                                                                                                             Cot
First Floor                                                                                               Ground Floor
Hood                                                                                                          Bonnet
Gas                                                                                                              Petrol
Elevator                                                                                                    Lift
Eraser                                                                                                        Rubber
Flashlight                                                                                                Torch
Garbage Can                                                                                           Dust Bin
Kerosene                                                                                                 Paraffin
Movie                                                                                                        Film
Patrol Man                                                                                             Constable (Policeman)
Side walk                                                                                                 Pavement
Trash                                                                                                        Rubbish