[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I beg leave
to offer one or two very brief comments and queries on the letter of "W. T.," who is so severe on the alleged bad English of Government officials and others. (1) In his own first sentence the expression "final cause" is wrongly used. This does not inspire confidence. (2) The familiar utterance of the tradi- tional curate—"I feel a feeling which I feel you all feel "—is attributed to "a distinguished classical scholar and Head-Master of a great Public School." Who is or was this scholar and Head- Master ? What ground is there for imputing the remark to any such person ? (3) To condemn "1 am to inform you "seems purely arbitrary. Is "em I to understand ? " also incorrect ? The idiom is a common one. (4) In the course of more than thirty years spent in reading and writing official communications, I have never come across " in dubiety." It sounds like a would-be humorous imitation of Johnsonese. (5) What in the world is wrong with "took place," which is stated to have been rigidly excluded from the Times during the editorship of Mr. Delane P (6) Any one who wishes to write correctly may be advised to study The King's English, by H. W. and F. G. Fowler (Clarendon Press, Oxford. 1906), or Common Faults in Writing English, by Henry Alexander (" The People's Books," T. C. and E. C. Jack, 1916, price 6d.).—
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