A recent column by Akeem Lasisi in The Punch highlights common errors made when discussing travel, particularly in the context of Nigerians traveling abroad. The columnist notes that the ongoing repatriation of Nigerians from South Africa has exposed a common mistake: using the phrase "repatriate back". According to the Cambridge Dictionary, "repatriate" already means to send or bring a person back to their own country, making the addition of "back" redundant.
Another error highlighted by Lasisi is the use of the phrase "deport back". When someone is deported from another country, they are sent back to their own land by official government order. As such, using "back" with "deport" is unnecessary and amounts to tautology. For example, saying "The man was deported back to Ghana in 2023" is incorrect, whereas "The man was deported to Ghana in 2023" is the correct usage.
Lasisi also discusses the incorrect use of the preposition "to" with the adverb "abroad". When traveling to another country, one is simply going abroad, not "to abroad". For instance, saying "Sherry travelled to abroad last year" is wrong, whereas "Sherry travelled abroad last year" is correct. Additionally, using "in" with "abroad" is also incorrect, as in "They met in abroad", which should be "They met abroad".
The columnist further notes that "abroad" can be used as a noun, in which case it can be used with the preposition "from". For example, "A large sum of money was sent from abroad" is a correct usage. Lasisi also cautions against using "overseas" incorrectly, particularly when using it as an adverb meaning done in another country.
When using "overseas" as an adverb, it is often misused with the preposition "to" or by dropping the "s" at the end. For example, saying "Dom will travel to overseas" or "Dom is taking his money to oversea" is incorrect. The correct usage is simply "Dom will travel overseas" or "Dom keeps his money overseas". However, when used as an adjective, "overseas" can qualify a noun, such as in "The overseas trips are questionable".
Lasisi emphasizes the importance of using correct language when discussing travel, particularly in formal or written contexts. By avoiding common errors such as "repatriate back" and "deport back", individuals can ensure that their language is clear and concise. Additionally, understanding the correct usage of adverbs like "abroad" and "overseas" can help to avoid confusion and miscommunication.
The column is part of a series by Lasisi on common errors in language usage, and is published in The Punch, a Nigerian newspaper. The article is available online, and readers can also follow The Punch on social media or download the Punch News App for real-time updates and exclusive content.
Key points
- Using correct language when discussing travel can help to avoid confusion and miscommunication.
- Common errors to avoid include "repatriate back", "deport back", and incorrect usage of "abroad" and "overseas".
- Understanding correct language usage is important for clear and concise communication, particularly in formal or written contexts.
