Plain English fights a daily losing battle

IN the UK there is an organisation called the Plain English Campaign that strives to uphold standards in everyday speaking. Some might say it is fighting a losing battle but they deserve a pat on the back for their efforts.

- POSTSCRIPT Roger Crutchley

Back in 2004 the campaign held a survey on the "most annoying clichés" prevalent at that time. Although it was two decades ago many of the clichés are still rampant today. For residents of Thailand I'm afraid "transferred to a massive post" and "they've fled the scene" don't qualify.

Topping the 2004 list was "at the end of the day" which itself is a substitute for another cliché "the bottom line". I was pleased to see that "second to none" is one of my pet hates. "At this moment in time"? You still hear it in media interviews. It is an unnecessarily lengthy substitute for the simple "now" and even that is not always necessary.

One suspects most people, especially politicians, use this expression because it gives them precious seconds to think up what they will say next. It's really a substitute for those horrible moments of mumbling, torturing bits of "ums" and "ers". So, perhaps at this moment in time" does serve a useful function after all...but it is still irritating.

Another phrase that incurred the wrath of the Plain English campaigners was the rather smug "I hear what you're saying". And we must not forget "to be perfectly honest" which unfortunately implies that normally the speaker is less than honest.

What I mean?