Opening my copy of The Journalist, the periodical of choice (or at least of automatic mailing) for unionised media professionals, I noticed this strangely placed ad. Of course, the union certainly needs the cash at the moment from any advertisers who’ll have the space, and it all helps keep the Journo as the good read it has become since its recent makeover, but I do wonder how many takers the Bowden Hall training company will receive from this ad.

Or am I wrong, and the nation’s assorted hacks and subs have actually been dying for the chance to acquire a decent level of accomplishment in the English language? As the ad says, it could bring them “real dividends in business” should they ever want to consider writing for a living. Still – I’m very happy to offer Bowden Hall a freebie for supporting the union: You missed a full stop for the penultimate sentence.