YP Letters: Misuse of language in media is fighting talk

Ukip MEP Jane Collins who became tongue-tied during a recent interview.

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with Jacqueline Ake’s recent letter regarding the misuse  of the English language. I cringe when listening to television and radio reports and shout out the correct words. In fact, I have often missed the whole point of the report because of my rantings.

I do love to listen to excellent journalistic reports on a London radio station. LBC ticks all my boxes. The best ever interview was the other morning on the Nick Ferrari breakfast programme. He was interviewing Jane Collins, Ukip MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. The topic was: “Who is likely to replace Nigel Farage as leader of the party?”

Their obvious choice appears to be Bill Etheridge. However, Ms Collins referred to him as Bill Everidge to which Ferrari remarked that it would be good for the party, if she pronounced his name correctly. She criticised Ferrari’s manners and said that her ‘mispro-noun-ciation’ was due to a mouth ulcer. He wished her a speedy recovery with tongue firmly in his cheek.

My pet hates are many. In addition to those mentioned in Ms Ake’s letter are, ‘different to’ instead of different from. I cannot read The Yorkshire Post some days without finding spelling errors.