Unfortunately, not all of us are blessed with the articulacy presumably possessed by W J Beacham (Opinion, April 6), who takes pride in avoiding "you know" in conversation.

There is a brilliant academic at the University of Sussex, who, through a speech impediment, sprinkles his lectures with a remarkable number of "ums".

This does not detract one iota from the quality of his dissertations and if other persons get by with the use of "you know" where's the harm?

Friendly communication brightens our day and I would hate to think some people would be inhibited from expressing themselves for fear of analysis.

Besides, Frank Bruno has turned "you know what I mean" into a national catchphrase. If Mrs Beacham wants to tell him he's guilty of "foolish remarks", she's a lot more brave than me.

-William Fraser, Summerheath Road, Hailsham