[Omah]

Originally Posted by Niall

Using grammar in a non-standard way is different to the use of text speak (a dialect that developed out of convenience due to technological constraints). Just because someone uses a semi-colon in the wrong place, or splits an infinitive doesn't mean that the standard of grammar is getting worse.

It suggests to me that maybe the rules are becoming more archaic and are simply on the way out. I think we should be worrying more about the testing obsession that's become a part of our schooling system, rather than if a child knows whether to use 'may' or 'might' in a sentence. People will learn grammar eventually, we shouldn't worry about it so much.

The problem with your statement is that people DON'T "learn grammar eventually" and "the standard of grammar IS getting worse" - ask any employer .....

Once the rules are on the way out then what used to be a common language becomes, as it used to be, a myriad of dialects .....