FURTHER to the correspondence on swearing (Letters, April 6 and 7) locals from Ecclefechan call their village The 'Fechan. Senior pupils attend Annan Academy a few miles away. When a parent from the village heard that her son had been belted by a new incoming teacher for being late she thought that was a bit severe until he told her: "All I said was the 'Fechan bus was late..."

Bill Brown,

4 Birchwood Place, Dumfries.

I HAVE to agree with Mark Smith’s article that swearing is good for us ("I’ll be damned ... swearing is good for us, and maybe our children too", The Herald, April 5), even though Martin Archibald’s opinion (Letters, April 6) has its good points. He writes that he prefers “expressive language ... rather than expletives”.

While not endorsing every swear word as suitable for use in company I do, now and again, find letting go with an expletive to be very helpful. Recently treading a path in these airts with a friend, we were faced with what appeared to be the North Face of The Eiger, covered in thick milk chocolate. Later, sitting with my still-booted feet in a bowl of hot water to remove the gloop, it crossed my mind that the only people for which that walk was suitable were the bl***y marines.

Peeling off the boots and socks it was saying bl***y that gave the greatest satisfaction.

Thelma Edwards,

Old Comrades Hall,

Hume, Kelso.