Let us muddle over US speak

SO many Americanisms have slipped into the parlance of developers and those in the housing business that I really fear for the demise of increasing numbers of English words and expressions.

For some time flats have been referred to as “apartments” – which to me just sounds pretentious (and will take up more space in advertising!) and now a Leeds estate agent has replaced “to let” and “let by” with “for rent” and “rented by”.

Someone who signs a lease and becomes the lessee of the property is the person by whom it is rented, not the agent who has found the tenant for the landlord.

Or maybe I am wrong and the estate agent is indeed the new tenant of all those properties going through his hands...

Rockin’ robin

From: MJ Wadley, Olive Grove, Harrogate.

The article about Elvis (Yorkshire Post, February 25) grabbed my attention. For many, many years I have carried round in my wallet a copy of Ode to a Robin, transferring it from wallet to wallet when necessary. I am most intrigued to learn that it is attributed to Elvis.

The second verse goes:

He was fragile sweet and young,

And sweetly did he sing,

And thoughts of happiness and joy,

Into my heart did spring.

I wonder if he ever entered it in a poetry competition.

Gay news

From: Brian H Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

MAXWELL Laurie calls for the use of the word “gay” to be discontinued because the term “homosexual” is sufficient (Yorkshire Post, March 1). I disagree. The terms “gay men” and “lesbians” came into use because the word “homosexual” tells us only sexual orientation, not gender.