Simon Heffer

adverse weather conditions’ or the ‘adverse effects’ of smoking,

Averse is an adjective that indicates a dislike of or an opposition to something, as in ‘I am averse to eating curry’ or ‘she was averse to his reasoning’.

explosion might be effected by dynamite, or a burglar might effect entry into a house by

his health was badly affected by the climate’ or ‘the damp seriously affected the house’s value’

You’re giving me aggravation’ or, ‘you’re aggravating me’

rather than ‘three alternatives’ there should be ‘three options’ or ‘three possibilities’.

subjunctive mood (see Appendix) – ‘I order he be removed from the court’ is just one commonplace use of
it, whereas a British judge would be more likely to use an auxiliary verb and order that ‘he should be removed’.

Amongst as an alternative remains acceptable, though has an increasingly antique flavour.

Have you any idea?’ and ‘Have you any ideas?’

anyway, meaning ‘in any case’ – ‘never mind the weather, I’m going to go swimming anyway’ – and any way, which means ‘by any means’