There's so much that we just accept, but the reasons behind how certain rules came to be are so fascinating and funny, it just increases your affection for language.

What I want is for people to really grab hold of language and not be nervous about it. 'The Word Spy' is all about diving in and playing with words.

I wanted to write for all children, even those kids who might see language as a threatening thing, even if English is their second language.

Today, girls,' said Miss Renshaw, 'we shall go out into the beautiful Gardens and think about death.