Can I help you, pet?

Sir, – I see where Marks & Spencer is introducing name tags that suggest the correct preferred pronoun usage for each individual employee.

Well done to them for recognising the right to choose.

However this might be an ideal chance for me to make a case for dropping the “dear”, or “love”, even the occasional “pet” that creeps into use in some shops depending on the age of the customer – almost always a female customer over 60. It’s a real putdown!

If some title is needed the American “Ma’am” or “Sir” is not offensive, but I think terms of endearment should be phased out. – Yours, etc,

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MARY JENNINGS,

Castleknock,

Dublin 15.