Oxford needs to look up the word "slang."

[Lyle1]

I still remember when ain't wasn't a word.

Sorry, but "ain't" has always been a word. It was formerly considered a word that was not used by educated people or people who wanted to appear genteel, but it has always been a word. That said, it isn't a word that I choose to use.

It amazes me that people in general have become so lax about the language that they choose to use. I've witnessed quite a few resumes from well qualified candidates go straight to the trash because of poorly written cover letters. The reasoning was that if a person with advanced academic degrees could not write an articulate and dignified letter, they were probably not not going to present well in business interactions.