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Showing posts from September, 2024

Bad Grammar: My Greatest Mistake in Marriage

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  Background Vogue Africa is a YouTube interview channel. It focuses on conducting random interviews with people on the street. The interviewees are typically Africans from the diaspora with a strong emphasis on Nigerians living in Europe. Vogue Africa currently has 8400 subscribers and has posted 335 videos. My Comments This sentence is so poorly put together, it makes little sense. The sentence is too long and should have been broken into about three parts using proper punctuation marks. It also has a spelling error, a missing article, missing punctuation marks and a weak verb choice. This reflects the unfortunate reality of Nigerian content creators. They are notoriously bad at writing, spelling and textual communication. This is yet another example of what has become a raging internet menace. Two correct alternative forms of this title could be: 1.   My greatest mistake in marriage. Please don’t make this mistake. A California-based woman shares her experience. 2. “My gre

Cuba Gooding Jr and Diddy’s Civil Lawsuit

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  Background Law & Crime Network is a YouTube channel with over 6 million subscribers. It covers celebrity and high-profile cases with legal analysis. They frequently include the insights of several knowledgeable guest lawyers. The channel has posted 19,000 videos. Law & Crime Network has dedicated an ample amount of time to the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs case and to the investigation of different events around the case as they unfold. In this video, Sierra Gillespie highlights all the individuals named in Diddy's civil lawsuits, just as his federal legal battle commences. One of the names is that of Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr. My Comments Cuba Gooding Jr has been in a lot of sexual trouble. On June 13, 2019, he was arrested in New York City on charges of misdemeanor forcible touching. In August 2020, approximately 30 women accused him of unwanted sexual touching. On April 12, 2022, he pleaded guilty to a charge of forcibly touching a waitress at a nightclub in 2018. He

Bad Grammar: Evicted BB Naija Housemates Share Their Eviction Shock

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  Background Hot FM is a popular radio station in Lagos, Nigeria that broadcasts on the 93.3 FM frequency. It started broadcasting in Lagos in 2018. Their YouTube channel has 17.4 subscribers and they have posted over 600 videos. This interview is with two housemates evicted from the Nigerian reality TV show Big Brother Naija Season 9. The theme for Season 9 is “No Loose Guard.” My Comments This is flagrant and befuddling output from a radio station. There are several examples like this on their YouTube channel. In the past year, I have encountered a carnival of grammatical missteps on the channel that would leave most people gnashing their teeth in annoyance. This is a station that focuses on entertainment and the delivery of information, yet they cannot observe the simplest rules of grammar. I really do not feel an iota of sympathy for them, especially when the internet is replete with numerous writing tools, grammar-correcting apps and AI applications that can help you improve yo

Bad Grammar: Kellyrae and Sooj Win Immunity to the Finals

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  Background Glory Elijah is a popular content creator who concentrates on Nigerian and African reality TV shows. She has over 300,000 subscribers on YouTube. This video discusses a topic from Big Brother Naija Season 9, themed: 'No Loose Guard.' My Comments The sentence "Kellyrae and Sooj wins immunity to the finals" is plagued with a couple of grammatical and contextual ambiguities. First, there is a subject-verb agreement problem: a plural subject requires a plural verb. "Kellyrae and Sooj” is a plural subject. “Win” is the plural verb that should follow it. Note, plural verbs do not end in “S.” The phrase "immunity to the finals" might also be quite confusing, given that it has certain potential implications. Generally, the word "immunity" means protection against harm or exemption from something malicious. In medical discussions, immunity refers to resistance against disease, which here creates an unintended analogy. It sounds like Kell

Bad Grammar: It Is Over: Tinubu Fulfils Promise

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  Background Maiyegun's Diary Politico is a political commentary channel on YouTube. It has 98,000 subscribers and has approximately 7000 video uploads. The creator of the channel uses his vituperative livestreams as a means of delivering politically-charged broadsides. My Comments The errors in this title are so many; I wonder how coherent meaning can be derived from it. First, the phrase “fulfilled promise” should either be written as “fulfilled his promise” or “fulfils promise.” This would make the statement clearer and more grammatically correct. Then there is the barefaced subject-verb agreement error at the end of the title. This error is one of the most common grammatical errors on YouTube.   The creator writes: "mini protests erupts." This is incorrect and the appropriate form should be: “mini protests erupt.” This properly matches the plural word “protests” with the plural verb “erupt” which does not carry the letter “S.”

Bad Grammar: Touring One of Abuja’s Secret Paradises

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  Background Comfort Properties is a real estate channel focused on finding properties for clients who need accommodation or homes in various parts of the Nigerian capital city, Abuja. It currently has over 19,000 subscribers and has posted about 100 videos. The videos provide information about the various kinds of property available, their location and purchase prices. They also occasionally feature real estate from other parts of Africa. My Comments In this YouTube title, there is an obvious grammatical error stemming from a lack of pluralization. The first two words of the statement: “One of…” suggest that there are several items out of which a selection will be made. Since there is already a suggestion that there are several examples of what is being discussed, it would be incorrect to follow “One of”, which suggests many, with the singular “paradise” which implies one. This creates confusion within the statement. The correct form of this statement should be: “Touring one

Bad Grammar: Protests have started in Benin

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  Background NewsMattazz with Princewill TV is a comedic channel with over 5000 subscribers and approximately 1000 uploaded videos. It has evolved into a social commentary channel offering takes on politics, faith and pop culture. My Comments This is another abysmally poor piece of writing from a Youtuber. The word ‘protest’ is a singular noun; it should not be followed by ‘have,’ which is used with plural subjects. This is just one out of three errors in a short title. Tragically comedic!

Hamster Kombat: The Viral Crypto-Game and YouTube Channel

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  Background Hamster Kombat is a Telegram-based gaming platform that combines elements of strategy and cryptocurrency in a playful environment. Players assume the role of a CEO of a fictional crypto exchange, navigating through various levels and challenges to enhance their virtual business while earning the native token, Hamster Kombat Coin (HMSTR). The Hamster Kombat YouTube channel was launched in May, 2024 and it has already garnered over 1 billion views. It currently has 37.6 million subscribers and it is raking in an enormous amount of views, likes and shares. These Are Some Comments I Got From YouTube Comment 1 Hamster Kombat has not only unfairly blocked many innocent users, but it has also ignored all the criteria initially set for the airdrop, focusing solely on referrals, which contradicts its original statements. This action goes against the project's promises and has led to further mistrust within the community. We demand transparency and fairness in the distribution

Bad Grammar: Former Rapper Jailed For 1999 Shooting Speaks Out

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  Background This is the E! News Channel. This video discussed the former Badboy Records rapper Shyne, who was sentenced to a 10-year prison term for his involvement in a night club shooting. The 1999 incident also involved Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs as well as Jennifer Lopez who was his romantic partner at the time. My Comments This title has several problems. First, it does not really convey any actual meaning and consequently sounds nonsensical. This is further worsened by the grammatical error that finishes the sentence. What exactly does “…shooting attended by Diddy and Jennifer Lopez…” mean? Diddy and Jennifer Lopez were clearly not attending a shooting and I am sure they were not invited to one. This is a very confusing and even misleading title that clearly demands a rewrite. Then there is the grammatical error at the end of the sentence. Once again, this is a subject-verb error, which is very widespread on YouTube. The subject of the sentence is ‘rapper’ and the verb is ‘speak.’ A s

Bad Grammar: Diddy's Daughters Cry After Feds Seize Their Phones

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  Background Kiki’s Tea is a YouTube channel that focuses on celebrity gossip. It has more than 100,000 subscribers and has uploaded 657 videos at the time of this posting. This particular video is about the turmoil Sean ‘Diddy’ Comb’s children, especially his daughters, have faced since their dad was charged with federal crimes. My Comments This is another YouTube video title with horrendous grammar. This sentence, like in many of the other previous posts I have made, has a subject-verb agreement error. The subject in this title is the word “daughters” and it is a plural word. It therefore has to be followed by a plural verb. This nagging error arises because most people are unable to reconcile the fact that most plural nouns take the letter ‘S,’ while the plural verb does not. This usually leads to confusion that spills onto the screens of our phones and computers as we view social media content. The correct form of this title should be: “Diddy's Daughters Cry After Fed

Our planet, Earth, will get a second moon, briefly.

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  Background The Earth will have a temporary second moon in its orbit starting next week. The moon, which is actually a diminutive asteroid, is about the size of a bus. It is about 33 feet long and it will stay in Earth’s orbit for about 2 months. NASA-funded scientists have named this second moon 2024 PT5 and it can only be seen with the aid of a telescope.   This asteroid poses no threat to our planet and after its 2-month orbit; it will be flung back into space. It will make a return to Earth’s orbit in 2055. My Comments Professor Adam Frank is the name of the scientist who spoke in this video. He explained the phenomenon of the second moon in clear and accessible language and made it quite engaging. It is reassuring to hear that the asteroid poses no imminent danger to our planet. The idea of an asteroid threating the Earth is the concept of several science fiction movies from the 90s. Armageddon starring Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck, is one of the most popular examples. Unf

Grammar Error: Biggie Severely Punishes Housemates Again

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  Background Glory Elijah is a popular content creator who concentrates on Nigerian and African reality TV shows. She has over 300,000 subscribers on YouTube. This video discusses a topic from Big Brother Naija Season 9, themed: 'No Loose Guard.' My Comments The title could have been improved grammatically in several ways. Foremost is establishing a proper agreement between the subject, “Biggie,” and the verb, “punish.” Nigerian creators on YouTube have a serious problem understanding how the subject and verb are supposed to harmonize in a sentence. The verb "punish" has to be in the third person singular form to match the subject "Biggie." That singular form of the verb takes an ‘-es’ at the end. As such it should be "punishes."  Also, the inclusion of an article ‘the’ before the word ‘housemates’ would help clarify that the statement is a reference to a particular group of individuals.  Properly written posts enhance the readability, precision

Movie Trailer: Brothers on Amazon Prime

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  Background This is the trailer for a movie titled Brothers coming to Amazon Prime on October 17. It stars Brendan Fraser, Peter Dinklage, Josh Brolin, Glenn Close and Marisa Tomei. My Comments The trailer did not give much away, which is good. However, it seems to be a movie about a family of felons who embark on a final heist. Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage play twin brothers and crime partners. Brendan Fraser appears to be a dirty cop who is involved in criminal activities and there is Glenn Close, who Josh Brolin’s character refers to as “mom” in the trailer. It is definitely an action-comedy movie with a healthy dose of physical humor. In a scene, Josh Brolin’s character falls off the balcony of a motel onto a car beneath, denting it as a result. The movie stars two Academy Award winners: Brendan Fraser and Marisa Tomei. It also stars two Academy Award nominees: Josh Brolin and Glenn Close. It is directed by Max Barbakow. Fun Fact Josh Brolin, Peter Dinklage and Marisa

Typographical Error: Giving Not Goving

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  Background Daddy Freeze is a retired broadcaster and former radio host who has switched into a fiery content creator and social commentator. He has over 150,000 subscribers on YouTube. This particular video discusses the mysteries of the spiritual realm and the potential consequences of disregarding the existence of this supernatural plane. My Comments This was an avoidable typographical error. A little bit of caution and attention would help a content creator sidestep these kinds of embarrassing mistakes. While Daddy Freeze is not a habitual bad speller, reliance on an app with an effective spellchecker would have easily prevented this unnecessary gaffe. The fact that these kinds of errors are so widespread on YouTube and social media, in general, reemphasizes the importance of double-checking written work before it is published online. This requires a blend of discipline, attentiveness and vigilance. Spelling gaffes leave a lasting impression on members of your audience – at

Bad Grammar: Chosen People Respond to Public Critics of Their Testimonies

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  Background Real Talk By Aunty Adunni is a channel that focuses on social commentary and the derisive criticism of religious organizations. Adunni, the creator of the channel, identifies as a freethinker and was a former member of one of the largest Christian organizations in Nigeria, the Redeemed Christian Church of God. She left the church due to what she describes as its oppressive practices. She now dedicates her platform to exposing the ostensible hypocrisy of religious organizations. My Comments Grammar errors are commonplace on YouTube, especially among the Nigerian content creation community. There are scores of examples like what I have posted. Many creators simply do not know how to properly use plural verbs. This is a real indictment of our educational system. This reflects the failure of content creators to effectively use the tools available through modern technology. These are errors that an average AI writing tool, such as Grammarly, would easily detect. The availab

Billie Eilish Endorses Kamala Harris for President

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  Background Following Taylor Swift’s post-debate endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, another global pop star, Billie Eilish, has followed with her own endorsement. This is a video of MSNBC’s Ari Melber discussing this endorsement and the Vice President’s interview at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) event. My Comments Vice President Kamala Harris had a polished and disciplined response to the questions posed to her. This was in stark contrast to the bickering, grievance and anger Donald Trump exhibited during his interview at the same NABJ event over a month ago. Trump squandered a good opportunity and turned instead to tirades and personal attacks against the journalists. This video shows a split screen of both candidates. It is a juxtaposition of two people and their public speaking style, their response to difficult questions and their overall demeanor. With a Billie Eilish endorsement, there is a brand new impetus added to the Vice President's ca

HipHop Mogul, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs arrested in New York | Poetry

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  Background: Sean Combs was arrested on Monday September 16 in a New York Hotel parking lot. Several civil lawsuits have been filed against him alleging sexual misconduct. These suits were filed by various people who had previously worked with the iconic producer and label executive. Mr Comb’s arrest was preceded by a federal grand jury indictment. Attorney Marc Agnifilo, who represents Mr Combs, states that the rapper is cooperating with the investigation and his relocation to New York was an anticipatory action in preparation for his arraignment. My Comments (As Poetry):   Sean Diddy, Mr Combs has been placed in cuffs Arrested in a York hotel, his old name was Puff The dwarfing of a music giant, what a sordid sight Sexual lawlessness will dim a shining ray of light.   A victim’s voice once silenced, today speaks out loud About the years of pain under a bad boy’s cloud A heart once bruised gently starts to heal Still scars remain of what was once concealed.   Th

Bad Grammar and Typographical Errors from Summer Aku Again!

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  Background: Summer Aku is registered nurse who lived in Ireland and has relocated to Nigeria. She is also a prolific content creator. My Comments: Summer’s typographical, grammatical and spelling errors come in torrents. Like I mentioned previously, I have had an extensive and heated exchange with her about the gibberish she writes on YouTube. These errors usually come within a community post or a video title. It is pathetic to see, but this is the reality. This is also true for many content creators. They prioritize quantity over quality, thereby producing meaningless textual content. This continuous shortage of attention to detail reflects poorly on our collective professionalism, credibility and skill.

Michael Jackson’s Brother, Tito, is dead

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  Background: Tito Jackson was the elder brother of the late pop superstar Michael Jackson.  He was the third of nine children and he died of an apparent heart attack while he was driving from New Mexico to this Oklahoma home on Sunday, September 15. He was exactly one month away from his 71st birthday on October 15. My Comments: My sincere condolences go to the Jackson family. This must be particularly painful for Katherine Jackson the beloved matriarch of the family. Katherine is 94 years old and has already gone through the profound tragedy and loss of one son. Now, Tito will be the second. I recollect vividly how Janet Jackson, her face shielded with dark sunglasses, gently pushed back a lock of Paris Jackson’s hair as she sobbed and eulogized her father, Michael. This was during his televised 2009 burial. It was heartbreaking to watch. This iconic family has to go through this again. I honestly hope they find the strength and forbearance to make it through this challen

CNN: Donald Trump Posts: ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!’

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  Background: Taylor Swift publicly endorsed American Vice President Kamala Harris after the second presidential debate on September 10. An embittered Donald Trump subsequently posted on his social media platform, Truth Social: ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!’ My Comments Donald Trump’s stochastic terror continues. His behaviour, similar to that of a schoolyard bully, has increasingly dangerous consequences. He has now targeted one of the biggest and most celebrated pop stars in the world. This is because she has formally endorsed his political opponent. Donald Trump deserves every iota of denunciation he receives for being such a brutish political figure. He merits condemnation in the harshest words. And he demands complete repudiation at the ballot box in November. America, it is time to wake up, register to vote and send Donald Trump into permanent political retirement. Sidebar: Unfortunately the video is in mono. I could only hear the audio through my right earphone. 

CNN reports on the second attempt on Donald Trump’s life in two months.

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  Background: The FBI said it is investigating “what appears to be an attempted assassination” of Trump on Sunday after the Secret Service said it opened fire on a gunman at the former president’s golf resort in Florida. My Comments It is definitely tragic and troubling to constantly have guns pointed at you simply for running a political campaign. However, Donald Trump is not exactly blameless in this situation. He has frequently attacked his opponents and evoked a copious amount of stochastic terrorism by inciting his rabid MAGA base on his critics and opponents. There is no room for violence in politics, period! It does not matter whether it is coming from a candidate you support or a party with which you identify. Any form of bloodletting undermines the very foundations of democracy. Stochastic terrorism is when an individual publicly speaks out against a person or group in a way that increases the chances of someone else, committing violence against them.  See explanatory fi

Bad Grammar: Ozee and Victoria Burn the Internet!

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  Background: This is the thumbnail of a YouTube video. The video was posted by Glory Elijah a popular content creator who concentrates on Nigerian and African reality TV shows. The video discusses a trending topic from Big Brother Naija Season 9, themed 'No Loose Guard.' My Comment: Nigerian YouTubers are notorious for not following basic grammar rules regarding subject-verb agreement. The captions, titles and video descriptions are riddled with this type of error. It is especially concerning when a content creator with a degree in English language, such as Glory Elijah, makes such errors.  It makes this blunder even more abominable. The correct form of this statement should be: "Ozee and Victoria Burn the Internet!" Kindly stop this embarrassingly poor writing that the whole world reads and laughs at for the wrong reasons.

YAH00 Miracles: Church Guitarist Describes How Pastors Stage Miracles In Churches

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  Background This was a live show from Nigerian Youtuber Daddy Freeze. He brought along three guests who discussed the influx of false miracles into some Nigerian churches. They spoke about the problematic trend, exposed the deceit behind these staged marvels and peeled back the curtain on the negative impacts it has on believers and faith communities. My Comments To Daddy Freeze, a live show is not the time to vanish. It is not the time to go and fetch peanuts from your shelf or water from your fridge. You can put those things beside you before the show commences so that your audience and guests are not staring at an empty chair.   To the lady at the bottom left, I am sure you can do your ironing and laundry at a different time. If you want to be on a live show, sit down in a properly illuminated place, make sure there is minimal ambient noise and face the camera.  Stop walking around the house!  Stop handling domestic chores while the show is going on!  Being on a live show is no

Another Writing Blunder From Summer Aku

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A Word Omission Again!   Correction Uproar As Nancy Umeh Is Accused Of Elder Abuse Of Her Driver – Told Him To Sleep In The Car Overnight There is also the reckless use of an acute accent over the letter ‘U’ in the word “Accused.” Summer Aku has to be held by the hand and corrected like a child before she ever gets her spellings right. I have personally gone back and forth with her over this carelessness.  Sadly, she is exceptionally incorrigible. 

I Had No Idea My Baby Daddy Was Married

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  This is an emotional narrative about rejection, abandonment and a quest for acceptance. The guest was rejected by her father because he preferred a male child. The father deserted the family as a result of this leading to her mother’s remarriage. She was raised by her relatives who meted out a lot of emotional abuse. As a teenager, she worked to support herself and in a desire for acceptance she got pregnant for a married man which ultimately compounded her plight.  
 Hello.