Since this is clearly a home for pedants where they can safely complain about inaccuracies in language here's two from me:
1. In emails/sms messages from friends I have noted much use of "definitely" misspelled as "definately".
2. I am always amused by posts on OLO that complain about the lack of spelling and grammar taught in our schools. However, these posts themselves often contain errors in spelling and grammar.

one of my friends doesnt think that grammar and spelling have any point and so i send him emails that are like this one created without any grammar it is interesting to see how well it gets the point across that there is just no room to breath in a paragraph without punctuation i find it pretty tough to write like this however because my hands naturally just want to type in the punctuation automatically

Does that start to get the point across? It really is a shame that there is a genuine culture of young people (many of my friends are in their early 20s) who do not think that grammar and spelling has a place in society. Words are such wonderful and powerful things. They can be used to marvellous effect, and it is a shame to see that the urge to use good language is fading.

But so be it.

Margaret: If you want to be so fussy you should watch your own syntax, e.g. "...scholarship to apply for..."

'Fulsome' doesn't mean 'unalloyed'. 'Quantum leap' means the exact opposite of what it's normally used to indicate - it's an infinitesimal move. 'State of the art' actually refers to industry-standard technology, the 'state of the art' in common use. And 'disinterested' is not a synonym for 'uninterested' - it means 'unbiased'. Such a beautiful language, being perverted and reduced by laziness and commerce. An alarming number of people speak as though they've walked out of a TV commercial. We've prostituted the language to sell cans of soup. Sometimes I despair a little.

In Queensland primary schools, students in years 3, 5 and 7 are required to take standard literacy tests. I think teachers should be made to do the same, with courses being offered to those who don't meet a certain standard.

Yes, I am a teacher.

Anomie, As a physics teacher I cannot agree with your definition of quantum leap. In a quantum movement, a particle is at one moment in a certain position, and in the next in a different position, without any process of progression from one to the other. True, this effect only occurs on a very small scale, but when used rhetorically, it is the virtually instantaneous quality of what is being described, which suits the use of the word "quantum".
cheers