Drawing upon her rich experience of life, Prudence (Prudie to her friends) responds to questions about manners, personal relations, politics, and other subjects. Please send your questions for publication to Prudence@slate.com. Queries should not exceed 200 words in length. Please indicate how you wish your letter to be signed, preferably including your location.

Dear Prudie,

I have no problem of a personal nature at the moment. What I do have is a societal irritation. Not only the young but also adults who are professional broadcasters have taken to ending declarative sentences as though they were questions. Have you heard this irritating "modernization"? How did experienced radio and TV people of both genders turn into Valley Girls, and do you know where this annoying development came from?

--Earache in Atlanta

Dear Ear,

Prudie is relieved that you are not in distress of a personal nature and hopes it is some comfort to you that she herself regards this way of speaking as revolting? It is called "up talk," and if Prudie knew its instigator she would slowly twist his question mark until it hurt. This raising of the voice at the end of a declarative sentence is the unfortunate result of trying to fluff up something that needs no fluffing: correct speech.

--Prudie, declaratively

Dear Prudie,

Are you hearing anything about Viagra from your readers? Do you have any thoughts on the subject?

--Leonard in Portland