SOUTH AFRICA’S EDUCATION SYSTEM IS IN FREEFALL

What a Disaster! – an 81% failure in reading for meaning in Grade Four!

It’s no wonder then that our government continues destroying our country. When your country has a 30% pass rate in matriculation examinations you can’t expect the people in government to do the job of running the country well.

That’s why our exchange rate continues to be at around 20 SA Rands to the US dollar.

In the eyes of democratic western countries we are perceived as a failing country.

There’s no point in continuing this rant as anyone with half a brain knows that we are on a fast track to disaster if we continue to prop up the gang of communistic thieves that are running our country.

So, what is the answer? – here are the options:

1. Chuck the government out by force – which will amount to civil war in the country, which will mean that millions of people of all races will be slaughtered, maimed or raped until a coalition of foreign countries steps in holding-up the banner of democracy and takes -over, as happened in Rwanda.
2. Give in to the ANC’s demands and become a communist country like Russia or China where the oligarchs own everything and the people own nothing.
3. Or take a more sensible course and educate our children using social media; assisted by parents, so everyone can be educated properly and then chuck out the government through the ballot box; which will then usher-in a new era where the country can be run under true democratic lines; where a government based on merit, skills and morality will run the country for the people and by the people.

So, to help with option 3, Busy Bee Editing gives you the second FREE instalment of the fundamental principles that govern English language usage.

Over Used Words and Phrases

The following words and phraphes are grossly over-used in most English writing, but particularly in academic writing, such as research reports, dissertations, journal articles and theses; mostly because some students/graduates are too lazy to research the accurate/correct meanings of words in Google

Accuracy of word choices is vitally important, especially in academic writing; so, your professor or supervisor will recognise the quality of your work if you take note of the following list and act on it.

if you use these words and phrases sparingly, and replace them with more accurate choices, your professor or supervisor will automatically take your document more seriously and will end-up giving you higher marks.

As a result of … Rather use: caused by, because of , or therefore, or just write a straightforward sentence.

Over-use of the – Often, the is used incorrectly. the should only be used when followed by a word starting with a consonant. e.g. the ball, the table, the weather etc. the should not be used when followed by a word starting with a vowel. e.g. an eagle an ox, an onion etc. (vowels are a,e,i,and u)

An exception to this rule is when an author is referring to something that has already been mentioned earlier in the writing. In such cases the should be used. e.g the teacher handed me the textbook that the class used on Wednesday.

challenging … This word is very over-used. Rather use difficult, problematic, inconvenient etc.

asserted … This word is used when you are referring a forceful statement. I other cases you can use, stated, posited, averred etc.

likely … This word is concerned with the probability that something will happen. If that is the case then you can use it. Alternatively use probably, which is usually correct.

noted … This word is very over-used. It is a very vague word that should be replaced with stated, argued, posited etc.

highlighted … this means using a highlighter to highlight certain words in text, or you can use it in connected with hair care … so rather use emphasised, averred, suggested etc.

on the other hand. This is just a long-winded way of presenting an alternative argument; so, rather use … alternatively, or say; Perkins, Atkinson et al suggested that …

Best wishes for success in your writing endeavours.

The next instalment of Fundamental Principles of English Usage will be out soon.

Busy Bee Editing Contact Details

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