Mind your language: BBC slammed over grammar standards

In an open letter to chairman Sir Michael Lyons, campaigners accuse presenters and correspondents of consistently misuing words, making grammatical errors and relying too heavily on colloquial phrases.

The signatories, who include Tory MP Ann Widdecombe and the former chief inspector of schools Chris Woodhead, want a language chief to monitor 'the syntax, vocabulary and style' of the thousands of corporation staff heard on air.

Ian Bruton-Simmonds, who wrote the letter, singles out Blue Peter presenters for misusing words such as 'replica'.

He also criticises journalists for mixing up the singular and plural and interchanging the words 'may' and 'might'.

Mr Bruton-Simmonds, who wrote the book Mend Your English, is particularly vexed by the corporation's frequent use of 'refute' to mean 'deny' rather than 'disprove'.

He said: "An adviser should be appointed who can advise broadcasters of their mistakes and offer alternatives. This is not policing.

"Shakespeare would have made grammatical errors had he been a broadcaster. But the BBC is obliged to maintain its standards."

A BBC spokesman said the corporation looked forward to the letter but added that it must strike the right balance between 'requirements reflecting the public's high expectations' and 'an understanding of the need for creative freedom and some flexibility'.

One BBC presenter, at least, escaped the campaigners' ire. Terry Wogan was praised for his consistently error-free use of grammar and syntax.

James Cochrane, another signatory and the author of Between You And I: A Little Book Of Bad English, said: "You do not hear them on the Terry Wogan Show because he is a well-educated man of a certain age."

It is thought unlikely the BBC would appoint a language chief in the light of its recently-announced staff cuts.