Language Agenda: Request and Request for

The expressions "request" and "request for" belong to standard usage, but in different contexts. If it is a verb, "request" does not require a preposition. But when it is used as a noun, "request" demands the preposition "for." In simple language, we "request", but we make a "request for" things or favors. Examples:

● Sapashini has REQUESTED a car from Tiyumba. (Verb)

But

● Sapashini has made a REQUEST FOR a car from Tiyumba. (Noun)

Colleague learner, armed with this grammatical secrecy about "request", you may avoid linguistic bombardments in the use of the word which suffers a high frequency of abuse in official letters.

Allah is the Best Grammarian.

Complement and Compliment

When we add, we COMPLEMENT. But when we praise, we COMPLIMENT. HaHahahaa!

Let us consider the following illustrative sentences using the confusing, sound-alike words:

● Dagbon Youth have devised strategies to COMPLEMENT efforts at peace and unity in Dagbon.

● The Voice of Zongo, an association dedicated to the development of the Zongo Community, has COMPLIMENTED Hon. Abubakar Sadique Boniface on his appointment as Minister-designate for Inner City and Zongo Development.

Dear reader, these words may sound simple to you. However, they certainly constitute a source of semantic catastrophe if you are not cautious.

Allah is the Best Linguist.

By Abubakar Mohammed Marzuq Azindoo,
Lecturer, University of Applied Management, Germany - Ghana Campus, Mccarthy Hill, Accra.