Duncan Dillon from Mayfair asks whether coloured socks on gents are vulgar.

Wearing socks that are clean and have no holes matters more than the colours. Red sock on left foot, green on right, may be flouting convention a bit far. The prime function of sox is to keep one’s feet warm. Attracting foot attention is childish. Can we not be children occasionally on our feet? PH

Steve Anonymoses, Chirk: “With a suit I see no harm in a dark shade of whatever matches the suit. With casual wear, whatever you fancy.”

Clare Abbott, Horspath, Oxford: “I don’t recall ever seeing colourless socks.”

Sue Tulk, Dalkey, Co Dublin: “Don’t know about the socks, but calling men ‘gents’ most definitely seems vulgar to me. Sounds like a public lavatory.”

Roger Hayward, Barrow upon Humber: “It depends on which part of the body they are worn.”

Lyndall Barbour, Warminster: “It is important that all socks match, so that if one loses one, it doesn’t matter.”

Readers are invited to send their responses to this week’s question by August 9. A selection will be printed in a fortnight.

Who are these rapists of our language? “Staycation” — the latest abomination. Did it start with chocoholic and shopoholic?

Dr A. W. Noltes, Sutton