Just read an alarming article on the BBC website: Letters 'key to a woman's heart' 

Men should boost their literacy skills and revive the forgotten art of writing love letters, a survey suggests. Of 2,000 UK women interviewed for the Department for Education and Skills poll, 77% said they would prefer a letter to a romantic text or e-mail.

The obvious argument about statistics to one-side for a moment - trying to improve literacy skills by convincing men to write love letters - is a bit like trying to increase the number of mechanics by convincing women to perform an oil change! Let's face it, it isn’t going to happen - and for a number of reasons:

1. Economic

Unlike an email which is free (from work), and a text (which is usually bundled free with your phone), the forgotten art of letter writing requires us to find a pen (a "nice" one), a piece of paper (a "nice" one - 80gsm laser will not do fellas - however at least 10 sheets of that will be required for rough drafts, to practice signatures, and design the set-up of the next England squad), and an envelope. And that's all before we invest in a stamp - the cost of which now not only depends on the amount we write but also the size of the envelope we select!  

2. Efficiency

How long does it take to write by hand! And then once we have sweated for hours and stuck it in the post on a Friday night - even if we fork out for first class delivery - there's no guarantee it will reach its destination by the following Monday! And then you discover your intended recipient is on holiday for a month in Greece, where they have the ability to check emails daily from the local internet cafe, and their phone by the minute. When eventually they arrive back home, will their delight over a single letter be enough to cause them to dump the new bloke they've been with for 3 weeks on holiday? I think not. 

3. Serial killers write by hand

Watch any TV drama and this is the form: Burglars, attempt not to leave a trace. Kidnappers, use torn-up newspaper letters in their ransom demands to conceal their identity. But serial killers, always leave letters written by hand – to demonstrate how messed-up they are! The thing is, text messaging and emails are informal, quick, spontaneous, fun, and can be deleted. Letters carry a weight and significance that can move a once fun and friendly electronic relationship into more serious bunny-boiler territory.  And finally… 

4. There is no real benefit

Whether you send the message by email, or text or letter it's going to get misinterpreted, owing to the fact the majority of men will be writing to a woman - "I love you more than ever!" becomes "…are you saying I'm fat!"  So save your money and effort and continue on the enlightened path of text and email. 

As for improving literacy skills - isn't that what schools are for? But I'll save that for another rant.