Huttonian has much sympathy with this writer (again to the Berwick Advertiser)

Sir,
I read the ‘Comment’ feature in your issue of January 22 concerning a recent job description issued by the county council – Director of street scene in the place directorate.
I am appalled at this obscure title and wonder if this is yet another method of distancing the public from what actually is being done in our name. I hope the job itself is a proper one, even if the title is not.
Whatever happened to the Plain English Campaign? We need to support it now to prevent the spread of such idiocy.
This could be an excellent campaign for your newspaper to sponsor!


I quite agree that this issue needs envisionment whilst pushing the envelope without disturbing the elephant in the room. How my distant relative Sir Ernest Gowers of Plain Words fame must be rotating coffin wise.

My favourite job title coined by a GLC borough long ago (Probably Islington or Brent) was aimed to elevate the self esteem of the good old fashioned Bin Man;



Environmental Hygenist

The Americans are much more advanced than we Old Europeans at making the job title suit the business. In New York if you have a problem* with cockroaches, as you do, you send for

The Exterminator

The image is of Environmental Hygenists in Norn Iron. One once took his title of Refuse Collector, plain and to the point, very seriously. Never picked anything up.
Ulster still says No, apparently.

* or an issue

Labels: Gooblegook, Plain English, Politically Correct

  ¶ 12:40 PM