I sincerely hope that English grammar Nazi Sabira Merchant will not mind my hat-tip to her since I’ve blatantly borrowed most of the title of her iconic television show, What’s the Good Word?, that was quite the hit during the Doordarshan days. The show was the only one that the mother allowed me to watch even if my homework was unfinished.

Fast forward to the days of Google baba and now, AI and ChatGPT. The floodgates have opened, the language is at the mercy of these tools, and Wren & Martin could well be a London-based office wear brand. Over years of being gobsmacked by how the language has been surgically messed up in press releases and other communication meant to be featured in the newspaper, here are a few standout gems that I call, ‘The Greatest Hits’.

Apollo Bandar: The Arabian Sea-facing promenade cannot get the monkey off its back. Everyone has forgotten the meaning of the Hindi word ‘bunder’ that was taught to us while in primary school.