13 NOVEMBER 1976, Page 17

The PR humbug

Sir: Mr Brian Stevens, Assistant Secretary to the Institution of Professional Civil Servants, would make a better case for PR if he had some small knowledge of the English language. In his first paragraph he splits an infinitive ('to at least check his facts'). In his second he refers to 'a very different picture to one year' instead of the English 'different from'.

Either of these elementary grammatical mistakes should be avoided by any averagely intelligent child of ten. How many of the 1473 PR officers currently employed by government departments have the education to write in correct English?

(Dr) Ruth Gipps Allfarthings, Hermitage Road, Kenley, Surrey