Words can be used to give solace in the way priests, vicars, nuns, pastors, people of the cloth use them.

We do not go around using knives and guns, so words are also used in anger when we wish to convey how angry we feel.

Words can be used to explain things to our families, friends, colleagues, lovers, neighbours. Words are used in informal and formal meetings. Words are the stock in trade for fiction writers. Words are used in preschools, nurseries, schools, colleges, universities.

I simply adore words. They have so many uses. Words can heap sincere praise on others, yet they are still just merely words.

I spend my days observing and writing about the good and great that I see around me. Not only in Andover, but wherever I go.

I see people all around, with great and uplifting attitudes, this simply reinforces my belief, that there are so many more positive things going on, out there, than there are negative. I guess I like to always see the good and write about that instead.

All this leads me to this; I recently wrote a letter for publication, without mentioning that I had been reading on different social media sites where members of the public were relaying their experiences about shopping. Once I saw my letter in print, I could see that some of my words, could be attributable to myself, and may well cause offence.

I’m grateful to Ron Wood for pointing this out to me (Andover Advertiser, April 17). However, he wasn’t to know that I had used phrases from social sites, so he wrote his admonishing letter into the paper, and quite rightly so too, because my letter didn’t make it clear that I had paraphrased words from other places.

I actually do use most of the supermarkets in town that are in walking distance, but by far my favourite is Waitrose. In praising fulsomely the store and its employees, I didn’t think I had inferred in any shape, or form, any offence or hurt to other hardworking members of staff, who through being essential workers need to work, instead of being allowed to stay safe and warm indoors.

Clearly, I have, and this has caused deep distress to Tina, who on reading my badly put together article, was left possibly feeling undervalued and unappreciated (Andover Advertiser, April 24).

Given that she, and everyone else, leaving home to go out as essential workers is indeed very much valued, appreciated and needed, I am appalled that my letter caused pain to people who, after all, are all working to help us.

I apologise unreservedly for the hurt that my article caused to Ron and Tina and indeed others who may feel it, but have chosen not to say.

I said at the start of this, words are so incredibly powerful, and as such they should be used wisely.

There is a right way and a wrong way to say and do things, but in my particular case, by leaving out a paragraph I was clearly in the wrong.

I hope in time my sincere apology will help both Ron and Tina experience some closure.

Manuela Wahnon, Rack Close, Andover