Phabulous frases

Here are a few phrases that have brightened up life in the Engine Room over the past few days – all from our charges, who never seem to notice that JD and I have made any changes to their prose. Which is as it should be, of course… I mean, why should a sub (or copy editor) mind that we do the work and they get the awards? At least it's never made me bitter.

• "it is, so far, the first of its kind"

• "imminent in the near future"

• "orders were worth nearly £12.7bn in value"

• "registrations are up by 76% year on year compared with last year"

• "the plight of a midlands company hangs in the balance"