15 MAY 2004, Page 36

Transparently trite

From James Young Sir: To Charles Moore's list of overused words (The Spectator's Notes, 1 May) may I add those terrible twins of PCspeak 'unacceptable' and 'inappropriate'? And following such behaviour there invariably follows a 'transparent' inquiry. This weaselly word is defined by the Shorter Oxford Dictionary as: 'having the property of transmitting light, so as to render bodies lying [sic] beyond completely visible; that can be seen through.'

James Young

London N1