You can't have too many apostrophe's

Didn't common-use cause the Queen's English to devolve into American English? And what is the correct usage of an apostrophe? I once was a stickler for correct grammar and found over the years that it was irrelevant even in arena's where one might not expect. English is such an imprecise language that the mere fact we can conceive ideas and generally communicate them is remarkable in itself. The fact is that common usage prevails, eventually. I am aware of the numerous errors in my response but as noted by others "So What??"

Paul,
An assured method of tempering your obsession is to deal with the illiterate on a large scale. The significance of correct grammar versus poor grammar is substantially diminished. The fact that people can convey concepts and ideas effectively is the most important part of our language. To discover the enormously large number of Americans denied the basic ability to read and write is shocking. Whatever the cause, they are in a left in a limbo without at least two-thirds of the ability to communicate. Spoken English has no real punctuation, only affectations, pauses and gestures for expression. Our efforts to duplicate those with punctuation underline the imprecise nature of our language. If you can grasp the concept conveyed then the language has performed its task.

The fact is that in some impoverished third-world nations the quality of grade-school education is far superior to that offered in the USA. America has become the collective voice of indifference with regard to education. Instead we import educated people on time-limited visas to fill our job vacancies. Educated citizens are the exports of nations such as India, Cuba and Haiti and their use and interpretation of the English language will affect our adoption of common-use. As far as the correct grammar and punctuation go, correct as to whose interpretation?? China has more English speaking citizens than the US and Canada combined. Add the peculiar syntax and expression common in India's English to China's contribution to our language and what we write today may be construed in the near future as a vestige of Olde English.

Paul,
You've been a good sport throughout this thread, despite tremendous ribbing, and in your defense I must add that there was a time when incorrect punctuation, and grammar, and spelling was/were thought to indicate a lack of education. However, my direct experience with several thousand post-graduates, MBA's, Phd's, proves otherwise. Those with advanced degrees also make the same or similar errors although admittedly less frequently and often in innocence, correcting the errors if they discover them. Interestingly, a great number of them also lack reading comprehension skills despite the fact that interpretation of the written word is a major requirement in their profession. It's something that should have been mastered in high-school or college.

Nonetheless, the emphasis on perfect punctuation and grammar usage is on the wane. Communicate an idea succinctly and clearly and you have succeeded in the use of the language. At least that appears to be the current standard. Should we revert to a standard of perfection in usage?? It would be great, but it's not a reasonable expectation. It's not hard to imagine the Queen's Court in the 19th Century feeling the same distress over Americans common-use of English and the severe damage that would cause to the Commonwealth. Somehow we survived that calamity only to face one of our own making as we watch the evolution with trepidation.