09/06/2025
Commonly Misused Words and Phrases
1. “Earpiece” ❌
Earphones or headphones ✅
Many say earpiece to refer to wired or wireless earphones. Earpiece in English usually refers to the part of a phone you listen from—not a full headset.
✅ Correct: “I forgot my earphones at home.”
❌ Wrong: “I forgot my earpiece at home.”
2. “I Cut the Call” ❌
I hung up ✅
3. “She’s an Half-caste” ❌
She’s biracial or of mixed race. ✅
Note that “half-caste” is outdated and offensive in standard English.
4. “Trafficate” ❌
Use your trafficator/signal. ✅
“Trafficate” is not a real English verb.
5. “Off the mic.” ❌
Turn off the microphone. ✅
6. “I’m hearing you” ❌
I’m listening.✅
“I’m hearing you” may be understood locally, but it's incorrect in standard usage.
7. “She delivered a baby.” ❌
She gave birth. ✅
Doctors and midwives deliver babies. Mothers give birth.
8. “Do me a favour and on the gen.” ❌
Please turn on the generator ✅
“On” is not a verb in standard English.
9. “You’re doing over-sabi” ❌
You’re being a know-it-all ✅
It’s okay for Pidgin, but not standard English.
10. “Can you dash me money?” ❌
Can you give me some money (as a gift)? ✅
“Dash” in Nigerian English means to give freely, but that’s not the standard meaning. It means running to somewhere.
11. “They’re doing introduction.” ❌
They’re having a marriage introduction ceremony ✅
✅ “They are having their traditional marriage introduction.”
12. “Go and wash plate” ❌
Go wash the dishes ✅
In English, “dishes” is the right term for multiple plates, cups, etc.
13. “He’s pressing laptop.” ❌
He’s using the laptop. ✅
14. “He’s behaving somehow.” ❌
He’s acting strangely/suspiciously ✅
15. “Your dressing is okay.” ❌
Your outfit looks good ✅
“Dressing” in English often refers to salad dressing or the act of dressing, not your clothes.
16. “Biscuit bone.” ❌
Brisket bone ✅
The bone in animal typically a cow, a cut from the breasts or lower chest which contains cartilage or bone, often used in barbecue or making soups and stews is known as brisket, not biscuit bone.
Biscuit bone is a mispronunciation, or mishearing and such a term is not recognized anatomically.
Say brisket bone.✅
Don't say biscuit bone.❌
17. “Talk In” or “Tork in” your shirt. ❌
Tuck in your shirt. ✅
Tuck in your shirt means to fold the bottom of the shirt down into your pants or skirt, usually to create a neater or more formal look.
18. “Borrow me.” ❌
✅ “Can you lend me your pen?”
✅ “I want to borrow your pen.”
❌ “Borrow me your pen.”
Borrow is something you receive while lend is something you give.
19. “I'm coming.” ❌
I'll be right back ✅
Nigerians use “I’m coming” to mean “I'm going but I'll return.” But in standard English, “I’m coming” means you're approaching, not leaving.
20. “Off the fan.” ❌
Switch off the fan. ✅
This comes from literal translation from Yoruba or Igbo languages.
