For the first time since the tests began in 1995, the number of pupils leaving primary school with an acceptable grasp of English fell.

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And the Oxford English Dictionary says both pronunciations are acceptable.

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"'Kicking ass' is acceptable vulgarity, " says Michael Adams, professor of English language at Indiana University-Bloomington and author of Slang: The People's Poetry.

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She said she had told the organisers of the meeting her intention to speak English and was under the impression that it was acceptable.

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Ministers also said it was not acceptable that childcare professionals are not required to have at least GCSE grade C in English and maths.

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