The keen intellectual rivalry between the two arms of the JSS 3 class in The Forte Academy, Ita-Oke is visible. Even a first time visitor to the school can tell if s/he chooses to witness a competition between the two classes. As a result, the class is judged the best in the school academically. A mid-term quiz between the two classes, coordinated by Mr Jacobs, their English language teacher, almost tore the two classes apart. There had been a tie between the two classes during the quiz. The rule, however, was that a winner must always emerge. JSS 3A had just answered a question correctly and it's the turn of JSS 3B to answer theirs. If they missed the answer, they would have to painfully concede victory to JSS 3A. "What is the full meaning of NECO?" The coordinator, Mr Jacobs, read out the question. The representative of the class was quick to answer: National Examination Council. Her classmates gave her a rapturous clap. When the clapping ended, Mr Jacobs surprised everyone when he announced that the answer to the question was wrong and declared JSS 3A the winner of the quiz. What? JSS 3B didn't understand the reason for his irrational decision. Even JSS 3A is surprised at the twist in the quiz. Mr Jacobs tried to calm their nerves by telling them why JSS 3A won. He said the full meaning of NECO is National Examinations Council, not National Examination Council. It did not make any difference or meaning to the disappointed students. "Didn't any of you notice any difference?" He asked. The truth was, they didn't. "Well," Mr Jacobs explained "JSS 3B lost because of the omission of letter 's' from 'Examination' in the acronym." What! What a flimsy reason to deny them a winning point. What did it matter that 's' was omitted! Mr Jacobs is just being wicked, they concluded. They protested the decision. Because JSS 3B were yet bitter and JSS 3A were shocked; they had also judged the answer to be correct, Mr Jacobs told everyone present a story. He told them the story of a man who had planned vacationing with his wife but the wife could not make it eventually. He went alone nonetheless but kept in touch with his wife via telegram. During this time, he had something to share with his wife. In those days, there were no mobile phones but telegram. So, he went to the telegrapher and dictated the following words to the telegrapher: "Having a nice time, wish you were here." However, the telegrapher typed and sent the following: "Having a nice time, wish you were her." Obviously just letter 'e' is missing in that statement but its omission ruined the intended message and probably the marriage too. The entire hall was quiet. Mr Jacobs took the advantage to give a list of other acronyms and words in which the 's' must not be omitted.
WAEC: West African Examinations Council
JAMB: Joint Admissions Matriculation Board
APC: All Progressives Congress
PDP: Peoples Democratic Party
UNO: United Nations Organization
NUC: Nigerian Universities Commission
Mr Jacobs went on to give them some examples of words that must always have the letter 's'. He told them that the letter 's' is not to be omitted in the following words:
i. headquarters
ii. shorts
iii. knickers
iv. trousers
v. sneakers
vi. scissors
vii. premises
viii. corps (member/marshal)
Mr Jacobs had indeed communicated and corrected the students to always endeavour to pay close attention to details, and never to take anything for granted, he was not popular among the students because he was considered too strict.
DISCUSSIONS
Like the students in our story, there a lot of things we take for granted which, unfortunately, someone somewhere might not. In this case, it was Mr Jacobs.
Let's discuss one very important example: the difference between unaware and unawares. Mind you, unawares isn't the plural form of unaware. What's the difference? One is an adjective and the other is an adverb.
1. unaware (adjective): Kate is unaware of the promotional sales.
Kate is unawares of the promotional sales. (incorrect)
2. unawares (adverb): Kate crept into the house unawares.
Kate crept into the house unaware. (incorrect)
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Thanks for reading. You will have a wonderful week ahead.
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