[Torie]

Yes, some subjects are highly degraded. My college educated nephew (smart guy), didn't have a clue where Singapore was. I told him it was the tip of the Malay peninsula. Did my nephew know where that was I inquired? I think it is near Korea he guessed. That exchange revealed his profound ignorance about so much - geography, history, culture, and the natural and physical sciences.

Good grammar comes from reading I think, lots of reading. That is the only way to develop an ear for the language, and what sounds right, and what does not. Rules of grammar help, but without the ear, I don't think one can write effectively.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Most Americans are utterly hopeless when it comes to geography. Such a simple subject too (its not like China is constantly changing positions on the map), and so informative when linked to natural resources, human population patterns and politics.