KING AIR 350 PLT EXPERIENCES A HEADING DEVIATION NEAR ICT.

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DURING THE DSCNT FROM FL260 TO FL190; I WAS FLYING A HDG OF APPROX 233 DEGS; DIRECT TO BEC. MY NEXT CLRNC WAS SOMETHING LIKE THE FOLLOWING: 'OUT OF FL230; FLY HDG 250 DEGS; DSND AND MAINTAIN 6000 FT; WICHITA ALTIMETER 30.07.' WELL; I READ IT BACK AND SET THE HDG BUG TO 230 DEGS INSTEAD OF 250 DEGS. SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING FL230; THE CTLR ASKED ME MY HDG AND I REPLIED THAT IT WAS 230 DEGS; WHEREUPON I WAS DIRECTED TO TURN TO 330 DEGS; THEN TO 360 DEGS. I WAS THROUGH FL190 BY THAT TIME AND THEN THROUGH FL180; AND I CANCELED IFR AND CONTINUED TO BEC WITHOUT INCIDENT. WITHOUT A DOUBT; I FAILED TO PROPERLY SET THE HDG BUG; BUT I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON A GROWING CONCERN THAT I HAVE ABOUT THE ATC SYS. WITH MORE THAN 33 YRS OF FLYING; IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY COMMON FOR CTLRS WHO ARE BUSY TO GIVE INSTRUCTIONS THAT INCLUDE MORE THAN A FEW INSTRUCTIONS AND THEN TO CONTINUE TO GIVE INSTRUCTIONS TO ANOTHER ACFT. ADDING TO THE CONFUSION IS THE ALMOST ROUTINE FAILURE OF ATC CTLRS TO USE PROPER RADIO-TELEPHONY PROCS AND LANGUAGE. THIS IS NOT LIMITED TO THE AREA LISTED ABOVE AS THE FOLLOWING ILLUSTRATION WILL SHOW. ABOUT 3 WKS AGO; I WAS CONDUCTING A TEST FLT ON A JET AT FL410. I NEEDED TO PUT ABOUT 30 MINS ADDITIONAL TIME ON THE ACFT AND I WAS DIRECTED TO FLY S ABOUT 20 MI AND HOLD. NO FIX; HDG; ALT; EFC TIME; OR ANY OF THE OTHER EXPECTED INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN. I ASKED IF IT WOULD BE OK FOR ME TO HOLD N; L-HAND TURNS AND 30 MI LEGS. THE REPLY; 'YEAH; THAT WILL WORK. ADVISE WHEN YOU ARE READY TO RETURN.' IT SEEMS TO ME THAT CTLRS ARE FAR TOO FLIPPANT WITH THEIR USE OF LANGUAGE; AND DO NOT SEEM TO FOLLOW THE RATHER SPECIFIC GUIDELINES SET FORTH IN THEIR OWN PROCEDURAL MANUALS.