21 AUGUST 2004, Page 23

Vile solecism

From Hugh Massingberd Sir: In his memorable definition of the 'Young Fogey' associated with The Spectator, Alan Watkins observed, 'He is a scholar of Evelyn Waugh.' Unfortunately Sam Leith does not appear to measure up to this standard. In his entertaining review of Christopher Simon Sykes's book The Big House (Books, 14 August), Leith claims to pick a nit about the author's allusion to Evelyn Waugh's 'Bright Young People'. This is actually how the phrase is rendered in Vile Bodies. 'Bright Young Things', which Mr Leith puts forward as the correct version, is a journalistic solecism of long standing.

Hugh Massingberd

London W2