Wrong to use 'irrevocable' when it isn't

EARLIER this year, a listed company here embarked on a non-underwritten rights issue to raise money for investment and working capital and, presumably to enhance the attractiveness of the offer, its announcements on the rights issue highlighted the fact that the company's substantial shareholder had given an "irrevocable" undertaking to fully subscribe to its portion.

The Encarta World Dictionary gives the meaning of "irrevocable" as "not able to be revok…