Is it high time to abandon the apostrophe?

SUSIE DENT’S article about the poor old apostrophe was a welcome reminder that this tiny bit of punctuation still has an important role to play. Colons and semi-colons have specific uses while full stops are non-negotiable if we are to maintain proper use of our wonderful, if complex, language. Please don’t dumb down, but embrace the use of punctuation by teaching it in schools. But we still should allow greengrocers to refer to carrot’s and onion’s. After all, that’s also part of our inheritance and tradition.

ROSE JONES, Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

I TAKE issue with Susie Dent’s views on the downgrading of punctuation in an increasingly woke world. Why should the teaching of grammar be seen as irrelevant and far too difficult for snowflakes? Susie complicates matters by suggesting when the correct form should be adopted. Surely this would only create confusion. Once it has become acceptable for standards to be ignored, our once fine language will be lost.

HILARY DAVIES, Llangefni, Anglesey. I AM a paid-up member of the late, great Keith Waterhouse’s Association for the Annihilation of the Aberrant Apostrophe. Keith founded the AAAA as a stand against grammatical vandalism. Long live the apostrophe!

MARGARET NODEN, Orihuela, Spain. THE worst case I’ve seen of the misuse of the apostrophe was on a greengrocer’s stall at Bridgnorth market: Asparagu’s!

DON MACKENZIE, Telford, Shropshire. SEEN outside a medical clinic: ‘Walk in’s welcome.’ I’d be reluctant to see a doctor who doesn’t know how to use an apostrophe, even though it’s only their medical expertise I need. If we get the small things right, we can then work on the big problems.

D. FITZGERALD, Melbourne, Australia.