YOUR columnist Sharon Griffiths comments on the changing use of words (Echo, August 26). This is caused by various influences, most notably the computer which brings American English to us.

Have you noticed that we no longer “underline” words and ideas, but “underscore” them?

“Goosebumps” has replaced “goose pimples” in common speech and “prams”

(perambulators) have been completely replaced by “buggies”, although that was originally a form of horse drawn carriage.

My particular shudder is at the use of the American name “train station”, when we have been calling them “railway stations” for the past 180 years. Perhaps the media is the cause of this as “train” is a shorter word which takes up less space in print.

I suppose it doesn’t matter what we call things so long as we all understand the meaning, but it would be a shame to lose words that are particular to our native English, such as “fortnight”. A bit of difference is distinctive.

I once had a difficult time at Boston Airport trying to explain to a US customs official what a tin of Spotted Dick contained.

Apparently unknown as a sponge pudding over there.

Colin Foster, Scarborough.