Letter: You get what you're paid for

I WOULD like to read Nicholas Bagnall considering the verb 'to earn' in his weekly column 'Words'.

I find it increasingly galling to see it used as a simple synonym for 'to be paid'.

When something was 'earned' it used to carry the connotation that it was deserved or merited.

That notion seems to have evaporated, along with the ideals of accountability and public service, as is clearly illustrated in the 'Quango Watch' column No 9 on the Higher Education Funding Council for England (10 April). 'How much does it cost?' you ask. 'Chief executive Graeme Davies earns pounds 104,000.'

Perhaps you could also consider renaming the 'How much does he/she earn' column.

P D Entwistle

Nelson

Lancashire