I read with interest John Haden's letter on the subject of nouns appearing from adjectives, etcetera.

While I agree with the principle that language evolves, it is increasingly difficult to come to terms with changes to what has been ingrained in our heads as correct grammar since we were at school. For example, the now commonly used verb 'source' or worse 'outsource' or 'resource' are nouns, for which there appear to be no verb derivatives.


Verbs that used to be only transitive such as 'execute' have now suddenly developed an intransitive - such as the message on my computer when I log in: 'Wait while your script executes.' Executes what? I ask myself every day.


Words used for effect such as 'functionality' seem to be creeping in (where function would do) and as for the expression 'in terms of' as in a recent commentary by a sports reporter on the BBC, who said 'she is now running faster in terms of speed', I despair.


The only consolation from the abuse of the language is that one can derive some humour from it. 'Head of legal' maybe an effort to be politically correct like 'chair' for chairman. Soon we will referring to postmen as 'posts'.



Tim Pinfield, consultant, Nalders Solicitors, Falmouth, Cornwall