Damning indictments of society often come in little columns, tucked away from the main headlines, in a reclusive corner of broadsheets. Sometimes they are picked up by bigger fish and made into a story; mostly they are destined to end up as tomorrow's fish and chips wrapping.

So it was with this little report, forgotten, almost a passing footnote in one of the British newspapers a couple of days ago. It simply read "Maternity Leave Harms Careers."

A year ago, the British government, which likes to be seen as family-friendly, took the laudable act of exending paid maternity leave to a year, so that women could spend more time with their tots and strike a proper work-life balance.

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Brace yourself folks, this is going to be a rant.

Make no mistake, I love the English language as much as the next man, perhaps a bit more, but there are certain phrases, spoken with particular inflections, that I find really, really annoying. There have been occasions when I have felt like making a sharp retort, but thankfully better sense has prevailed. So far.

I am sure you all have your pet peeves about the language. Here's mine. Three of them, in fact.

1. "My friend"- This is the one that I abhor most. You are all familiar with the self assured sneering types who use it as a putdown when they mean exactly the opposite. "Now there's a thought for you, my friend"...."I am afraid I can't help you there, my friend".

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