I LOVE words, always have, but I am appalled by what is happening to our lovely English language. My English teacher would have turned in her grave. Words like ‘luv’, ‘wannabe’ (they are three words, want to be), and worst of all, did I actually hear ‘tomorrowers’ – what on earth is that supposed to mean?

Words pluralised incorrectly, apostrophes in the wrong place: is this the end of my favourite crossword puzzles in their present form? Is the art of letter writing being replaced by text messages? Is the teaching of English to foreign students a forgotten skill?

I have long lost my enthusiasm for Countdown and Scrabble.

Only recently, to my surprise, I saw a notice in my local hospital, beginning “R U” (are you).

Children who have difficulty in reading now will not learn from this ‘newspeak’.

EDITH PARSONS Broadhead Place Northway Estate Oxford