SIR – Readers of these columns must have noticed, that it’s practically impossible for a TV reporter to complete a sentence without ‘erms’.

The road to ‘erm’ Tripoli is causing ‘erm’ problems for the ‘erm’ Libyan rebels, who will need ‘erm’ much more fire-power ‘erm’ or their progress will ‘erm’ grind to a halt.

And what about the dissection of simple words with brand new syllable pauses?

A greenhouse is now a green ‘pause’ house. A dustbin is now a dust ‘pause’ bin.

Former City footballer Dean Windass was called ‘Dean Wind-dass’.

Gary Lorriman, North Walk, Harden, Bingley