There is a prevalent public outcry against the putative decline in the quality of world, and especially American, linguistic expression. This paper examines the accuracy of this claim, and weighs the significant supporting and opposing evidence, which includes informed opinion, expert witness, and results of standardized reading and writing examinations. The present state of affairs can be attributed to negative public attitudes (e.g., a willingness to generalize the worst, a desire to return to the "good old days," an unjustified reverence for standardized tests), as well as to a general lack of knowledge of how language works. Areas of research are suggested, and recommendations for diagnosis, remedy, and prevention of deficiencies in linguistic competence and performance are outlined. (DB)