SAMPLE I: “And Obinna went to her mother. True to his words, Obinna paid her thoroughfare to Lagos along with four other girls... Visits to various shrines for this whole complex of arrangements and agreements also involved those shrines which are perceived to exist under the watchful eyes of very powerful witchdoctors which principally serve to instill extreme caution and fair in the girls’ perception of things... (Travails of Under-aged Sex Workers in the Hands of Their Madame, The Nation, Saturday, August 6, 2011).

Two blemishes are noticed in this excerpt, one of which resides in the word thoroughfare occurring in the structure, “Obinna paid her thoroughfare to Lagos”. The collocation involving the word paid does indicate that the noun thoroughfare is used to denote the cost of transportation.

No doubt the reporter is familiar with the word fare as denoting the money paid for transportation. He may not be as familiar with the noun thoroughfare, but he is definite that the word fare with which he is thoroughly familiar is a fractional part of the former. Since it is bigger, more inclusive, more mouth-filling, and certainly more impressive than fare, who, if he is to maintain an image of a “scholarly” reporter, would not prefer thoroughfare to fare? I can bet that the reporter must have thought that thoroughfare is a “fuller” and more “respectable” form of fare.

When people’s literacy level increases, they would be inclined to select words less for their ornamental or decorative purposes than for their accuracy and suitability in particular contexts. The desire to be impressive, more than the intention to be accurate, it would seem, has inspired the writer’s choice of the word thoroughfare in the place of fare.

As we have noted, the word fare is about the cost of transportation. However, the word thoroughfare has nothing to do with the money you pay when a commercial vehicle takes you through a distance. Rather, it is used to denote two related things: (i) The main road or access through a town, village or part of a city. (ii) Whether you can pass through a particular place.

Now we illustrate the usage of the word in our sentences: (1) Discovering that the thoroughfare had been blocked by protesting youths, we decided to make a detour. (2) The thoroughfare is notorious for the activities of armed robbers especially at night. (3) Five kilometres into the thoroughfare, we sighted fierce-looking policemen, and quickly made a u-turn. (4) Although we saw the sign reading “No Thoroughfare”, we drove ahead believing it was misleading, and could have been put there by mischievous men. (5) Since the thoroughfare was being resurfaced, the traffic was directed to the other, minor routes.  (6) The thoroughfare must be maintained not just for safety purposes but also for aesthetic reasons since it is one of the image-makers for the town.

Now we illustrate the usage of the noun fare: (1) Air fares have doubled since 2005 when I travelled out of the country. (2) Bus fares have gone up astronomically following the hike in the pump prices of petroleum products. (3) Commercial drivers would have no reason to increase fares once the pump prices of petroleum products are kept down. (4) We have to save up in the course of the year so that we can pay the fares demanded by the drivers of the buses taking us to the village. (5) You need not travel with us if you cannot afford the fare. (6) The government can no longer subsidize air fares for those travelling on holy pilgrimages.

At any rate, the word fare should replace thoroughfare in the context under examination.

The blemish we address next is related to the word fare in an interesting way. We are interested in the word fair found in the context, “which principally serve to instill extreme caution and fair in the girls’ perception of things”. Beyond any doubt, the word that context requires is fear and not fair. How can we be so sure? Again, we must rely on the collocation or some keywords available in the context.
One of such words is instill. Do you “instill” “fair”? To say the least, there is something anomalous in saying that someone intends to “instill fair” in other persons. The other word is caution. The co-occurrence rule will banish the word fair from the environment of the word caution. Logic and semantics would make fear and caution more friendly companions than caution and fair.

At any rate, it cannot be that the reporter is not aware of the existence of the word fear. Equally important, it cannot be that he would not be able to identify the right words if he is assisted in matters of pronunciation. Yes, pronunciation issues are at the heart of the wrong choice. Plagued by pronunciation difficulties, the reporter is placed in a quandary regarding the difference between and among the words fare, fear and fair.

Next, it behoves us to explain and illustrate the respective usages of these words. Immediately above and in a different context, we have discussed and illustrated the usage of the word fare as a noun. It remains for us to illustrate its usage as a verb. As a verb, the word fare is used to convey the idea of how a person or thing is doing – whether or not it is successful or unsuccessful: (1) It is heart-warming to note that this government has fared better than the immediate past one. (2) The right thing to do is to write to the Head of Department to find out how your daughter is fairing this semester. (3) In spite of the harsh criticisms and the image crisis, the ruling party fared better than any other party in the last elections. (4) I am surprised, disappointed and depressed that Kunle did not fare as well as I had expected in the last exams. (5) It is a well-known fact that Japanese cars fare better in the Nigerian market than the cars from other parts of the world. (6) The coach of the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, was relieved of his post because the team fared terribly badly in the last football season.

The word fare also occurs as part of but is inseparable from another word in the lexical item farewell: farewell party; farewell address; farewell ceremony; farewell dinner. You can also say, “farewell” to someone who is travelling.

Now the word fair. Now read the following sentences: (1) People think that I have an excellent command of French but my English is just fair. (2) Although the old man is highly gifted, all his children have just a fair level of intelligence. (3) The boy was rated “excellent” in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, but fair in Biology. (4) There is nowhere in the world in which 50% is rated higher than fair. (5) The Japanese economy is highly developed, but our own is just fair. (6) Is it fair to discriminate against people on the basis of their skin? (7) We must distinguish between an iniquitous system and an egalitarian and fair one. (8) Nobody doubts Jega’s ability to conduct free and fair elections. (9) Every society should strive to evolve fair social, political and judicial systems. (10) Most traditional societies are not fair to women. (11) Labour unions everywhere are asking for nothing more than fair wages for their members. (12) If we are proud of our skin as black people, why do our women always want to marry people with fair skin? (13) Some soaps will make you look fairer than you are naturally. (14) Does fair skin always mean better intelligence or ability? (15) Have you been fair to all the contestants? (16) People can pursue excellence only where there is fair play. (17) Nigeria has had more than its fair share of bad leadership. (18) To be fair to the president, this obnoxious bill did not emanate from his office. (19) Whatever anybody might say, the president won the election fair and square. (20) I have a fair idea of what is going on in your mind: that I have cheated you. (21) In fairness to him, he can be kind and compassionate. (22) Fairness demands that all contestants should be treated equally. (23) The states in the Southwestern Nigeria are organizing a trade fair of a global dimension. (24) Publishers, bookshop owners, students and lecturers were invited to the Book Fair. (25) Medical doctors have suggested that allowing traditional healers to organise a fair and publicize it will be dangerous to the healthcare system. (26) The children are excited to participate in the funfair (Compare: The Green Revolution Programme was launched with fanfare; in spite of the fanfare that attended the launching of the scheme, the programme has been a dismal failure).

From those twenty-six sentences, we know that the word fair (as an adjective and as a noun) is about being just, reasonable, average, light (as different from black); its noun form is also about organizing a public event for the purpose of displaying and selling products, or for entertainment.

Now fear: (1) The fear of the unknown has led many people into idolatrous practices. (2) With trembling and fear, she opened the front door, and the hoodlum rushed past her into the living room. (3) As the Father xmas was about to carry her, the girl screamed in fear. (4) Fearing neither friend nor foe, a good leader will confront the enemy on behalf of his people. (5) Where there are faith and love, there can’t be doubt or fear. (6) Soldiers are trained not to fear even in the face of the gravest danger. (7) Absence of fear enables a person to think clearly in difficult and awkward situations. (8) The activist said he never feared the dour military tyrant, General Sanni Abacha. (9) The holy book says we should fear God and obey His commandments. (10) I neither hate nor fear my enemies; I love them.
It should be clear from the illustrative sentences that fear (used as a noun and as a verb) is about terror, being afraid; feeling insecure...
The sample should read “which principally serve to instill extreme caution and fear...”
By the way, please note the difference between instil (British) and instill (American).