As a 30-year veteran of the written and typed word on paper (word processor, editor, author, desktop publisher, and proofreader), I will admit that even with whole teams checking material (author to editor to proofer and back again) mistakes still sneak through.

But it does bother me to see so many typos and grammatical and spelling errors. It doesn't upset me with the individual making them--it upsets me that we as a society apparently don't place importance on teaching grammar and spelling anymore. Judging from the fact that misuse of the language is virtually everywhere--billboards, advertisements, newspapers--those skills are rapidly becoming a lost art.

I find that both sad and disheartening. I agree that the crux of the matter is communication--but isn't communication enhanced if you actually understand what the other person is trying to say? I've read a lot of posts that are interesting, informative, and a lot of fun, but would have been much more so if I hadn't been distracted from their message by trying to figure out what word the poster meant to use!

Now that I've ranted on for far longer than I should, may I just add: "Cletus, don't you *ever* lose your accent, y'all hear me now?"

Lin