Everyone who cares about standards in journalism has their bugbears when it comes to words, phrases and cliches that are to be avoided at all costs.

There are some, like me, whose blood boils when they see certain expressions in print.

Others question whether the readers really ever notice.

It is irrational I admit, but I get genuinely angry at the use of jargon, over-complicated phrases and attempts to be posh.

Below is my personal top 10 and I would be interested in yours. Please email them to lwhitlock@thekmgroup.co.uk

Of course, the usual proviso applies. Inevitably some of the expressions outlined below have appeared in the newspapers and websites I am responsible for this week.

Please do not stoke my anger by pointing them out.

1) Make off - escape/get away/flee

2) Fatally injured/life extinct/passed away/injuries incompatible or inconsistent with life - dead

3) Mindless vandals - no, no. no. They made a conscious decision to damage someone else's property.

4) Heartless thieves - show me a kind, compassionate thief and I will admit to being wrong about this one.

5) We assisted/gave assistance - we helped. Help is such a nice and simple word. An example of someone trying to be more sophisticated than they need to be.

6) Employment opportunities - jobs

7) Clinical users - patients

8) Tributes have been paid - there has to be a better way to start this type of story

9) Unnamed spokesmen - why should they be anonymous? Be named or supply a quote we can attribute to a real person.

10) Adjacent - next to/neighbouring. I admit this my most irrational one but it is such an ugly word.