You’re on a train and the announcer comes on just before the next stop. “Mind your step when boarding or alighting,’’ she or he says.
Surely, in 2022, there is a better way to effectively communicate such an important message, because, let’s face it, boarding and alighting are not words most of us would employ on a regular basis, if at all.
It’s true, many train passengers will get it because of the context or because they have had to work out before what was being communicated to them.
But such words should be given a permanent flick, because even people with English as their first language may struggle with them.
Your heart goes out to people who’ve just arrived in our country and their grasp of English does not extend to alighting.
But I bet all the tea in China that they would get it straight away if the announcer had said something like: “Please watch the step when you are getting on or off the train.’’
The propensity to use old words is most prevalent in official places, in other words where it is really important the meaning is crystal clear.
Many years ago the government, along with the legal establishment, made an effort to improve communication with the public, simplifying language, especially in formal documents.
Before that, to understand such documents you needed, well, a lawyer.
The time has come to make sure you don’t need an interpreter or a linguistic historian to explain signs or announcements on public transport such as ferries, trains or buses.
When it comes to bad use of the language, there is a raft of examples.
Anyone reading this who can do something about it, please do so as soon as you can.
In the meantime, here’s our Top 5 language bugbears:
Number 1. The word “amazing’’ is just about meaningless these days because it is so, so overused. It was once used to describe something that was so out of the ordinary it was “amazing’’. Now the most mundane activity is “amazing’’.
Number 2. That train announcement about watching your step would be in any list of mine.
Number 3. If you’re one of the few people who still watch the news on TV you may have notice that crime stories are littered with the word “allegedly’’. Sometimes even the incident itself allegedly happened. Newspaper subeditors who have passed away would be turning in their grave.
Number 4. The modern phenomenon of emails that arrive from banks or other institutions with a little note at the bottom telling you not to reply, because “this address is not monitored”. Very poor form of communication when it’s one way only.
Number 5. Those wonderful parking signs with the lot. Are they for real? By the time you read the last item you’ve forgotten the first one on the sign.
