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”.
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Hide AdSomeone 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.