Countless are the linguistic sins that mightily offend the Revise department at The Times. Here the Chief Revise Editor suggests how to avoid some of the worst.

Compare and contrast
First, the correct use for when differences or contrasts are the point: “Drunkenness among journalists is far less likely now compared with 30 years ago.” Secondly, the correct usage for likenesses: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” “After ten pints, Mr Reporter, I don’t think so.” Many people, only some of whom are leading hacks and the worse for wear, get these wrong.

The pointless possessive
This irritation is apparently essential for the militant tabloid broadcasting wing of the trade, but it malignly infects the prints also. “And in golf’s Ryder Cup, Fred Nurk, of Ramsbottom . . .” As opposed to “Tiddlywinks’s Ryder Cup”? Please refer simply to Ryder Cup golf. This horrid habit also permeates geography: “London’s East End”, which usage can be justified only when making a comparison with (!), say, “Glasgow’s East End”, as in: “For real mind-bog-gling nit-picking, appoint someone from London’s East End.” Otherwise, “the East End of London”.

Indecent prepositions
Enough to bring on the screaming abdabs: “Phone us now for free.” No! “Phone us now free” or “Phone us for nothing”. People live “outside of” the city. No! “Outside the city.” Aaarrgghhhhh!

Singularly plural
“A student [singular] can apply to extend their [plural] overdraft.” We have this difficulty because of the gender-equality constraint on writing “his”, “her” or the ugly “his/her”. Far better to agree to write in the plural: “Students can apply to extend their sub-prime mortgages.”

Matter of fact
It is a fact that “the fact that” is often written or said despite the fact that someone long ago bothered to invent a shorter word. “Due/owing to the fact that”? Try because. “Despite the fact that”? Maybe “although” will do nicely.

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