The ABC screeching blackboard experience

We all like crisp, accurate and clear expression, and we all want the ABC to be a role model of crispness, accuracy and clarity.

Thus we prefer it when presenters say "whence" rather than the tautological "from whence", and "whether" rather than "whether or not". For "whence" means "from where" (as in "I am going back whence I came"), and "whether or not" should only be used when particular emphasis is required. "Whether" is sufficient almost all the time.

And when we hear (as on Asia Pacific this morning) "But nevertheless" beginning a sentence, we have a right to wish that the redundant "But" had not been tacked on the front. "Nevertheless" stands alone, requiring no extra word to give it its meaning.

When alleged users of English write "But neverthless", can "Nevertheless but" be far away?

These are things children the English-speaking world over learn before they leave primary school, so it's natural that when paid ABC journalists and presenters get them wrong time after time, day in and day out, we should feel like we did as kids when the chalk squeaked on the blackboard.

Tagged: scose, abc, australia, australian, english, language, radio, grammar, spelling, pronunciation, journalism, radio+national