After reading Natural Sciences at Cambridge I somehow got into advertising, graphics and eventually electronics design. When the technology got too complicated I became Curator of Communications at the Science Museum, London, where I wrote several books and took a history degree. I now write and consult on science and technology books for children.

Lately my main interest seems to have switched from kid’s science to the extraordinary expressiveness of English – and to finding examples of the equally extraordinary ability of the average Joe or Jo to mess it up.

I’m married, with three grown-up children and two grandchildren, and live in Chiswick, west London.