問：小兒學校英文班傳單說：In order to ensure that all students are proficient in language competencies for Primary One, an intensive English language programme is organised in August。句中competencies一字，有沒有錯用？
答：這一句大概是說：「本校將於八月舉辦英文精修課程，務求所有學生的語文修養，達到小學一年級所需程度。」原句所謂proficient in language competencies一語，堂皇而失當：proficient和competent二字，一指「擅長」，一指「有足夠能力」，意思差不多，英文沒有to be proficient in a competency這樣的說法。
此外，「課程安排在八月舉行」，可說The programme is organised for August，那for不宜改為in，否則是說「課程在八月籌辦」。全句我會改寫如下：To ensure that all students achieve the language proficiency required for Primary One, an intensive English language programme is organised for August。前半句還可寫得更明白一點：To ensure that all students are able to speak, read and write to the standard required for Primary One...。
問：某傢具店沙發上有告示叫人勿坐：Please don't sit on。這寫法是不是有問題？
答：叫人不要坐在傢具上，傢具店常見的告示是No sitting或Please don't sit on the furniture。論文法，你可以說Please don't sit；sit之後假如用on，就必須有the furniture之類受詞（object）。