F-words that we can do without

Oh dear, my favourite Journalist columnist Humphrey Evans has managed to fall prey to an old affectation, which has made an alarming comeback recently.

In his admirably clear discussion of “shall” and “will” (Chief sub May/June) you use the word that, in my opinion, should be struck from all copy — famously, as in “perhaps most famously in the US constitution …”.

I believe that if someone or something is famous there is no need to say so (writing, “the famous Jesus Christ” is bonkers, as most of us would agree).

If, however, as in so many instances these days in both print and increasingly on BBC Radio 4, it is used to give weight to somebody or something that is far from well known, it is just plain annoying. (“As when the famous arm wrestler Binky Huckerback famously told his wife to pass the extra-virgin olive oil.”)

I exaggerate but, believe me, I see and hear other examples of these two words being used without thought almost daily.

In my time as a sub, I never managed to persuade everyone that these two F‑words should never appear in copy, but I expect higher standards from Chief sub.

Graham Jones

Oxted, Surrey

 

 

 

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