I have no problem with creative language use, unless of course you are a company that say, MAKES FREAKING SPELLCHECKERS and GRAMMAR CHECKERS!

I really resent having had some non-genius's lack of understanding of phonics infiltrate our culture to the point that actual newspapers print "cancelation" and "kidnaping" instead of "cancellation" and "kidnapping". Anyone who understands phonics knows that the "double-consonant makes the preceding vowel short", so it's maddening every time I have to look at spellings such as those, because I have to THINK about what is being said. My brain stops *every single time* and wonders what "kan-see-ley-shuhn" means. I have to THINK because *I* actually learned phonics. I KNOW what a "silent e" does! It has a FUNCTION! Double-consonants MEAN SOMETHING! AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! [Sounds like: Sam Kinison!]

On to my pet peeve of the week: dropped *words*. Now it has come to my attention that a new language-abusive fashion has emerged from this culture, which is that of dropping entire words from established phrases. If I have to read "out-of-box" or "top-of-mind" one more time, I may just scream like Sam Kinison for real. What is so hard about using our language with a modicum of skill? Why dost thine "the" offend thee so? [Go ahead and correct me on that if you wish - I'm just playing around! ] My point is, "Out-of-the-box" has been a perfectly useful, well-established phrase for many, many years, and making it nonsensical does not make one sound smarter, or "cooler". It makes one sound... like one has no grasp of the language. And it's driving me crazy!!

Someone save our articles and pronouns!!!

SEE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out_of_the_box [vs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out-Of-Box_Experience]