Lost for Words: The Mangling and manipulating of the English Language

From empty cliche to meaningless jargon, dangling participle to sentences without verbs, the English language is reeling. It is under attack from all sides. Politicians dupe us with deliberately evasive language. Bosses worry about impacting the bottom line while they think out of the box. Academics talk obscure mumbo jumbo. Journalists and broadcasters, who should know better, lazily collaborate. John Humphrys exposes the depths to which our beautiful language has sunk and offers many examples of the most common atrocities. He also dispenses some sensible guidance on how to use simple, clear and honest language. He knows he may be hanged on his own gallows, but is prepared to take the risk in support of his beloved Campaign for Real English.

In a journalistic career spanning forty-five years John Humphrys has reported from all over the world for the BBC and presented its frontline news programmes on both radio and television. He has won a string of national awards and been described as a 'national treasure' - all of which he attributes to longevity and luck. He presents Radio 4's Today programme and BBC2's Mastermind.