Since a time, it can be observed that Germans do not master their language any more. But this is not restricted to Germans. Obviously the growing consumption of audio-visual media, esp. TV, leads to a loss of certainty and routine in the use of written language, and this is, for now, a special problem of our youth. So this is not a sign of lacking intelligence or education, it is only a lack of exercise. It always makes me laugh when I see native speakers of English confuse these word: And here some more terms prone to mistake: * existance (better: existence) * more to come...