The sad truth is that often times other countries have better english classes than we do in the USA. Just go to Arkansas.

The battle is lost, my intellectual friends. Correct use of the English language still has value though; it has become a sort of secret handshake used among those for whom intelligence actually matters. When you see someone make proper use of a semicolon, or spell the word "embarrassed" with two r's and two s's (and correctly apply the apostrophe in those rare cases where it is actually the proper form for plural), you know you are dealing with a member of the Tribe. Courage, my friends. We are brothers and sisters in arms, and though the world descend into a nighmare of |_3375p34|< and barbaric ignorance, we shall remain immaculately eloquent.

Whenever you read online forums, you have to disengage your Grammar Verification Drive if you want to keep your sanity.

That said, I will admit that certain, senseless phrases, like "In regards to ...." and ... "In terms of ...." really do annoy the hell out of me at times.

The first phrase annoys me because it's so "accepted" (you even see it in textbooks, documentaries, business memos, etc.), even though the correct phrase has nothing to do with "regards" (well wishes you send to another.) "In regard to ..." is the correct phrase (notice the singular "regard"), with "As regards ... " being the only correct use of the word "regards" in this context.

The second phrase annoys me because the context in which the phrase is used (as well as the singular/plural nature of the subject) all too often shows very clearly how inept the phrase is; in truth, most people really mean to say "With respect to ... " not ... "In terms of ..." Ex: "In terms of the ship designer, the game is awesome."

How people fail to notice the senseless things they're saying and writing I'll never know.

Anyway ....

:::: disengaging Grammar Verification Drive ::::

Seriously, there's nothing wrong with leetspeak.

1 5p34|< 133t.

I speak perfectly fine British English.

The two are not mutually exclusive. It all depends on the circumstance. When in forums (fora), do as the forumnites do.

How about its and it's while you're (and your) at it? It's the apostrophe abuse that gets (get's) me. People just think they need to be thrown in wherever there's an s at the end..

i really wan't to know what two words people think they are contracting sometimes.

Then there's things like Americanized spellings vs. British spellings. Armor vs Armour. Color vs Colour.