12 APRIL 1913, Page 15

BAD WORDS.

[To Tax EDITOR OF THR "SrEcurop..”]

SIR,—Can you help to drive the following words out of use, viz.: Mentality, obsession, necessities (for "necessaries "). meantime (for " meanwhile " or "in the meantime ")? If so, I think you will confer a boon on those who have a regard for

the English language.—I am, Sir, &c., L. [As many men as opinions about words. We loathe "mentality," though we fear it has sometimes crept into the Spectator, but confess to a total lack of prejudice about new words. After all, is not the splendid liberality of Dryden the better way ? " I trade both with the living and the dead for the enrichment of our tongue." Still, " mentality" goes down very hard.—En. Spectator.]