Polysyllabic snobbery
Sir: I do not wish to enter into a debate with Paul Johnson (15 January) on the respec- tive merits or demerits of polysyllables and monosyllables. I am sure as a contributor to many publications, from the Spectator to the Sun, he is a master of both. Unfor- tunately, however, he has failed to master his facts.
First, no talks have taken place with the Observer about a merger nor will they. The Guardian prizes its independence very highly and the Scott Trust which owns our Group ensures that we can keep it. More importantly, he is quite wrong when he states the Guardian's 'losses are paid by — indeed its very existence depends upon — the Manchester Evening News'. Once upon a time this was true but I am glad to say that as a result of the greatly improved financial performance of the Guardian and the diver- sification of the Group's activities into other fields, it is no longer correct. The Manchester Evening News is of course a very important part of our Group. However, the Guardian would still go on publishing even if the Manchester Evening News was not there, which I am sure it always will be.
Finally, on current trends we confidently expect the Guardian to be making a profit very shortly which is a remarkable perfor- mance in the present recession-ridden state of Fleet Street where nearly all the national newspapers are losing very substantial sums. So the Guardian has earned the right to use long words if it wants. We wish the subsidised Spectator the same success.
P. W. Gibbings
Chairman, Guardian,
119 Farringdon Road, London EC1
Paul Johnson writes: I am glad to hear that the Guardian is now within measurable distance of paying its own way in the world and becoming an honest woman.
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