Here attention is drawn to possible problems arising from an inaccurate use of the English language in science.It is noted that such misuse may lead to incorrect public understanding of some common notions in sciencetoday. To illustrate this two examples will be discussed; one relating to the use of the word ‘renewable’ whendiscussing energy sources in the context of climate change and the other the use of the term ‘speed of light’which occurs so often in so many popular discussions as an almost blanket term. The second of these leads,almost inevitably, to some comments relating to black holes.