The Words to be Used

Potential nannies is not a satisfactory usage. In a sense every girl is a

potential nanny, just as she is a potential m other, wife, or wage-earner.
W ould-be nannies is the simplest expression for aspirants to nannyhood.
pragmatic
A pragmatic attitude is an attitude adopted rather for its practical
consequences than on any basis of principle or theory. Thus, in loose
use, it refers to practical, everyday business.
But in recent years the Princess has become the pragmatic and acceptable
face of royalty at a time when other, younger members of the Royal Family
have behaved in a manner which not only saddens the Queen, but also
sullies the reputation of the monarchy itself.
The contrast between the Princess Royals conduct and that o f other
m embers of the Royal Family m ight reasonably bring the w ord accept
able into play, but the concept of the pragmatic as opposed to the
theoretical is scarcely relevant. A better w ording w ould be: the Princess
has become the fitting and acceptable face of royalty.
priority
The list o f w ords already spoilt or in the process of being spoilt must
surely include this one (not to m ention prioritize). It is now throw n
about far too freely. Here is a piece o f advice to parents w ondering
w hether to send their children to holiday camps.
Your main priority is whether or not your child is going to be happy away
from home.
Do we really need a priority to be mentioned? W hat is lost if we write:
You must first decide w hether or not your child is going to be happy
away from hom e?
properly
This is one o f those words w hich we readily throw about in conversation:
You havent cleaned the car properly, He doesnt brush his hair p rop
erly. The lax usage jars on the printed page.
Old enamel ware is now quite hard to find, but if hunted down properly
can still be found at car boot sales.