I read something on MSN News that makes me wonder about journalists and their grasp of the English Language.

Here is the quote. “Despite being perhaps the most infamous royal abode, Buckingham Palace’s future is looking pretty questionable following news that the Queen has ‘permanently’ moved out.”

Can you see what’s wrong with it?

It’s the use of the word infamous. I also heard it used about the Sydney Opera House a month or so ago.

Buckingham palace is a well-known building, that’s for sure, but I don’t think it’s infamous. Not unless there have been some nasty goings-on there that I don’t know about.

Famous is the word that means well-known.

Infamous also means well-known, but for something bad.

Dick Turpin was an infamous highwayman.

The Cray Twins were infamous gang leaders in London.

The Wests were infamous murderers.

And so on.

Buckingham Palace is NOT an infamous royal abode.

I’ve just spent a weekend staying with my sister in North Wales, hence the rather brief and late post. I would usually have scheduled one, but didn’t get around to that either!

Hopefully I’ll be back to normal next week.

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Here’s a bit about the story.

Maria and her husband, Jack, have moved into an old cottage. They want to furnish it with period furniture and buy a medieval table.

That’s when the mystery begins. Strange sounds in the night. Have they bought a haunted house? But a medium tells them it is not a ‘lost spirit’, but something else she does not recognise.

What is it that is causing them to lose sleep? The answer is more unexpected than anyone thought.