The Star Stutters – The First Time Sin

By Chong Beng Lim

The media has been abuzz with the timely coronation of our new king, or Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan.

The Star newspaper reported that, “This the first time that both the newly selected King and Deputy King are a generation younger than most of the other Rulers.”

Please note that the above sentence is laced with errors. First, “This the first time” is grammatically incorrect and should be changed to “This is the first time”.

After the phrase, “This is the first time”, the sentence should be in present perfect tense. Thus, “This is the first time that both the newly selected King and Deputy King have been a generation younger than most of the other Rulers.”

And this is not the first time The Star has committed “The First Time” sin!

©ChongBeng Lim, The Standard of Malaysia English, 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from The Standard of Malaysia English is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Chong Beng Lim and The Standard of Malaysia English blogspot with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.