Mawled by England’s pronunciation police

Which way? An old milestone marker on the A346 in Wiltshire, not far from ‘Mawlborough’. Photograph: Dean Hoskins/AlamyView image in fullscreenWhich way? An old milestone marker on the A346 in Wiltshire, not far from ‘Mawlborough’. Photograph: Dean Hoskins/AlamyLettersMawled by England’s pronunciation policeA pack of Marlboroughs | Student survey | ‘Sainsers’ | Passenger panic | Proud Yorkshiremen

Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett mentions Marlborough College in her article about classism and private schools (To state school alumni starting university, I say this: be proud of your background, 5 October). I spent the first 24 years of my life in Marlborough Road, Gillingham, Kent. Only many years later, when I dealt with people educated at Marlborough College, did I realise that I had been saying it wrongly all my life. Apparently, to those in the know, it’s pronounced “Mawlborough”.Martin PilgrimCanterbury, Kent

Almost half of the students surveyed named procrastination as damaging their ability to work (University students say procrastination is biggest threat to their academic performance, 8 October). Did the others put off making a choice until later, then?David DuellDurham

Tim Dowling annoys his family by saying “Saino’s” for Sainsbury’s (3 October). I have always said “Sainsers” in a Birmingham accent to annoy my husband.Ursula HutchinsonNewport, Isle of Wight

Excuse me, John Fisher (Letters, 6 October), “a hysterical woman freaking out”? A plane passenger having a panic attack, surely.Karen LewtonNewcastle upon Tyne

I do not have to worry about whether or not I am English (Letters, 2 October), as I am a Yorkshireman and that is much more important.Alan ConnellHarrogate, North Yorkshire