Radio 4

One thing with which even the most literate Americans seem to have trouble is the humble preposition. I'm not referring to such monstrosities as "different than", which at least has the merit of being in standard and consistent use in the US. What I mean is that the use of the right proposition in ordinary sentences often seems to throw them.

As with most things American, it's spreading to the UK. Radio Four just now stated that Honda workers would be going into work today "for the last time in four months". Huh? Sorry mate, but in June they will be going back to work for the first time in four months. You can't use the "in" to describe a future state of affairs.

I can only assume that the writer originally had "for the last time for four months" but decided that that three fours was one too many (see my play with language there? Waugh, eat your heart out.)

There then followed an interview with the wife of a worker at the Honda factory in Swindon who explained what the lay-off would mean to the family and how they were going to cope. Their strategy would be:

a) to reduce their Sky subscription package
b) go on to a lower mobile phone package
c) contact the mortgage company to try to reschedule debt repayments.


Actually I quite like the last one. Cope with the downturn by not paying off debts. It has a certain consistency with coping with the good times by ratcheting up the debts.


(Update) Half an hour later: Radio News changed to "will come into work today for their last shift until June". Clearly someone higher up the BBC editorial chain coughed into his tea when he heard the original phrasing.
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