Tom Hodgkinson’s recent newsletter about our Bad Grammar Award, “Bad grammar, Is the internet evil, and Mr Paxman’s error” contained its own howlers, as our readers were quick to point out. In particular, certain readers took umbrage at our the way we called the misspelled “leak” (for “leek”), from a previous newsletter, a typo.

Sir: For God’s sake, Hopkinson, you dolt. A typo is an error of typing – as in Hogdinkison. Misspelling ‘leek’ as ‘leak’ is ignorance.

Jeremy Paxman

Mr Paxman has agreed to join the panel of judges for this year’s Bad Grammar Award, the result of which will be announced in September, ed.

Sir: I read “leak” as simply poor spelling in the last email update. How can it be a typo if a ‘typo’ means hitting the wrong key – a typographical error? ‘A’ and ‘E’ are not close enough on the keyboard for it to be a true typo.

Paul Orton, Oz

Sir: Simply cannot let this go unremarked. The geeks may manage on protein shakes but are we now expected to ‘lunch’ on Scottish country dancing? And as an avid ‘out-of-towner’ I am bemused by your instruction to ‘take allow at our online courses’. Bad grammar it may not be but bad proofreading it most certainly is. Yours etc

Eric Maddern

Sir: “we’re also lunching a NEW three part course in Scottish country dancing” Not giving up eating, then…? “Overseas and out-of-town idlers: send me your thoughts and take allow at our online courses.” A proof-reading course, next…? Sorry: difficult to resist. As we used to say at school, nobody’s prefect.

Revel Barker