What a Word!

A P Herbert's acclaimed 'word war' was first waged in Punch, for 'the lasting Benefit of the King's English', and went on to elicit a host of amused, outraged and sympathetic counter-attacks. The very best of these semantic skirmishes are collected here with APH providing a mountain of ammunition for his noble battle. 'Plain English', 'Jungle English' and 'Valuable Neologisms' are all addressed, and fortified or demolished as APH commands. Now over sixty years since first publication, the 'word war' rages on, with a host of new coinages and expressions joining the ranks, but the worthy principles of the combat remain the same. Take arms and join APH in the fight! -- whichever side of the great lexicological divide you happen to fall.