I'M over the moon that readers replied to my complaints last week about over-used cliches in modern-day life.

To be honest, I didn't think comments would flood in. But, at the end of the day, the public voted with their pens and gave me a piece of their mind about phrases that get up their noses.

Here are some of your views as I hand the rest of the column over to the people:

I AGREE with you wholeheartedly as regards as to "catchphrases".

My absolute loathing of words used are derived from America; cool, chill, awesome, wicked and 24/7!

The first four words are totally opposite to the Oxford English Dictionary translation.

The last one is just down to absolute laziness of the use of our language.

Why is it such an effort to say 24 hours a day, seven days a week?

I hate, loathe and detest this slapdash way of talking we (not me) have adopted from the slovenly USA.

We haven't got much left to call our own, but it appears even our way of expressing ourselves is being dominated by them.

Why oh why have we let this happen,I despair!

Tina Davey, High Wycombe

YES, you have a point.

We all use phrases or words which either don't make sense or are superfluous.

I find it most irritating when people interrupt every sentence with the question "Are you with me?" I always feel tempted to ask back "Have you bad eyesight?"

Also, there are people who start every sentence with "Basically", or make abundant use of the words "you know?" in their speech.

I suppose these words give them a few more seconds to think about what they are going to say next.

However, the word "then" when quoting a price tops it all.

The phrase "that's £1.20 then" would make sense if it were preceded by the question "Would you like anything else?" ("No, thank you.") "That's £1.20 then". I think that is how the phrase originated, only the preceding question got lost over the time.

But don't judge them too harshly.

We are all creatures of habit, and, if unsure of ourselves, tend to copy what others do or say.

Charlotte Moore via email

THANK you for the opportunity to express irritating speech.

In fact I have three, I cannot decide which is the most annoying to me: 1 "See ya later" surely "Goodbye" is usually most appropriate.

2 Upon being served in a restaurant "There you go" just about to hopefully enjoy a meal, I am not going anywhere!

3 "At this moment in time". Why not "Now"?

I feel better already for having the chance to put it onto paper.

Mrs Brenda G Arundell, Penn

LONG live the campaign against vulgar catchphrases.

Some catchphrases are welcome, for example Hoover for clumsy vacuum cleaner.

Ego puffing ones such as "Absolutely" when yes is adequate come to mind for an early chop.

The word "kids" should never be allowed as a substitute for children.

If you refer to them as young goats they will grow up into animals.

In fact they are already doing so!

Pure English is a beautiful language, practiced and prai-sed world wide.

We should not let it be denigrated by vulgar catchphrases or any other form of filth.

William T Cooley, Prestwood