Book description
Let me be clear. This book does not contain a raft of measures to
address issues around the abuse of the English language. It is not a
forward offering to proactively strategise a blue sky solution
utilising key deliverables. Nor does it articulate a compelling and
coherent vision for the coming period. The fact of the matter is, we
need a step change in the way that we communicate if we are to avoid a
spiral of decline. It is time to draw a line in the sand and consign
certain linguistic atrocities to the dustbin of history. Welcome to
The Banned List. The Banned List began with five cliches, and has
grown steadily ever since. Here its creator, John Rentoul, sets out
the need for such a list and argues the case for clear writing. He
looks at the lure of the cliche and how jargon from different walks of
life has made its way into the language everyone uses. Cloudy,
meaningless words and tired, hackneyed phrases are not merely
annoying, they make it hardr for us to communicate. The solution is
simple, however. The Banned List shows you the traps to avoid and the
rules to bear in mind when writing or speaking clearly and simply. It
also contains The List in full. Keep it close to hand and you cannot
go wrong. It's not rocket science.
John Rentoul heads the committee that maintains the Banned List - his
ever-growing collection of over-used, meaningless and offensive words
and phrases. He is also chief political commentator for the Independent
on Sunday, and visiting fellow at Queen Mary, University of London,
where he teaches contemporary history. Previously he has worked for the
BBC and New Statesman, and on an oil rig in the North Sea.
