Why are there so many spelling errors and typos nowadays? Much of what's in this article has been said before, but I still think it's worth reading.
Bad Spelling & Typos: NY Times Opinion Piece
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Bad spellers always mystify me. My boyfriend spells everything wrong, even when he is just writing up a grocery list. For example he will spell steak as "stake." And I'm like, really?? He says that he knows how it is really spelled, but he just doesn't think about it when he writes it. I don't understand that at all. Spelling words correctly comes naturally to me (unless I've never seen a word before, obviously) and it would truly take extra effort on my part to spell things incorrectly. I just don't get it.
I see the point of the piece, that for some people spelling and presentation is unimportant, only the content actually matters. Even putting aside my very personal interpretation that presentation is half of the message, I think when you reach the point when misspellings and errors get in the way of comprehension (which happens all too often), this line of reasoning falls down.
Having a correct spelling is like having proper table manners: sure, you can survive without them. But if you want an actually place in adult society, you should watch how you eat, and how you spell.
Having a correct spelling is like having proper table manners: sure, you can survive without them. But if you want an actually place in adult society, you should watch how you eat, and how you spell.
I'm also sure there is a typo somewhere in my post. It's the law. 
Virginia Heffernan, the author of the New York Times piece I quoted, wrote that. And what did she do there?I see what you did there.
(I had no idea who Albert Pujols was until I Googled him.)
I get what the author is saying about thinking of language as a system, rather than just a means of communication. If you make a mental connection between words and their origins, you’re far less likely to misspell “definite” (think of “finite”) or “horizontal” (think of “horizon”). If you see language as simply a tool, you’re more likely (yes, I’m generalizing a bit) to write words the way they sound to you. That makes it easier to confuse homophones and to write things like “would of” and “should of.”
you mean would/should HAVE?
Obviously.
Yes. Maybe I wasn’t quite clear that I was pointing out an error. (I thought the “mad” emoticon would help.)
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Not really surprised by the article -- it's been established that humans had to learn written language over time for a reason -- our brains are more attuned toward communication via written symbols, rather than words and language, so it stands to reason that some people are more adept at spelling than others.
That said, I've always been an exceptionally good speller and have been grateful for that particular skill my entire life. I frequently have to remind myself though to not be judgmental about it when other people misspell words, whether by accident or if it's just their habit. Irritating? Sometimes, yes. Would I rather everyone spell correctly all the time? Absolutely. But I can live with it.
That said, I've always been an exceptionally good speller and have been grateful for that particular skill my entire life. I frequently have to remind myself though to not be judgmental about it when other people misspell words, whether by accident or if it's just their habit. Irritating? Sometimes, yes. Would I rather everyone spell correctly all the time? Absolutely. But I can live with it.
I am also a very good speller. My boyfriend on the other hand is terrible. He is always asking me how to spell simple words and names. It is a bit annoying, but I guess it is also nice to know I am needed. 
I have actually always been a good speller, but only in my adult life have I become so interested in word origins and the history of languages. When I was younger, I always thought my good spelling was because I was such a voracious reader. I have also noticed that I am not as good of a speller now as when I was in school. I think maybe it is because I do not have as much time to read as when I was younger.
I have actually always been a good speller, but only in my adult life have I become so interested in word origins and the history of languages. When I was younger, I always thought my good spelling was because I was such a voracious reader. I have also noticed that I am not as good of a speller now as when I was in school. I think maybe it is because I do not have as much time to read as when I was younger.
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I've always been a great speller (but a lousy proof reader 
), and it worries me that so many people these days can't spell many basic and common words, or understand some simple grammatical rules (such as everyday contractions), and I'm concerned that the problem is making its way to published material, and not just restricted to throwaway stuff like social networking sites.
And as the article points out, unfortunately a lot of the errors people make are a matter of using the wrong word, but still spelling the word correctly, so not even the spell checkers built into every single device these days can help them.
Some errors are innocent enough. I've seen people make the "your/you're" mistake when I know they know better, but then there are mistakes like "defiantly" that are inexcusable and alarming.
), and it worries me that so many people these days can't spell many basic and common words, or understand some simple grammatical rules (such as everyday contractions), and I'm concerned that the problem is making its way to published material, and not just restricted to throwaway stuff like social networking sites.And as the article points out, unfortunately a lot of the errors people make are a matter of using the wrong word, but still spelling the word correctly, so not even the spell checkers built into every single device these days can help them.
Some errors are innocent enough. I've seen people make the "your/you're" mistake when I know they know better, but then there are mistakes like "defiantly" that are inexcusable and alarming.
As a bad speller myself perhaps I can help you understand. It's paying attention to certain details that aren't important to us.
Everyone in life has things that they pay special care and/or attention to and others we do not. I'd wager that there are some things that you do that irk him as well that seem oblivious and/or unimportant to you?
The best analogy is some of the finite details that people pay attention to on this board related to Star Trek. It always amazes me how close attention certain people pay to the details in Trek often missing the grander and larger issues.
The 'blue nacell,' issue that caused a lot of debate in the Trek XI film is one in particular that I found odd. For me who the hell cares that blue nacells violate the canon of the original show but for some it really was troublesome.
In any case, for some people spelling comes naturally and when people misspell things it irks them that others don't pay attention to those details.
For me, misspelling on this board seems like a stupid nitpick. But there really is no excuse to misspell words on essay papers and similar documents when we have so many ways to double check spelling in grammar after a document is finalized.
I am an extremely detail-oriented person when it comes to almost everything in life, so I'm sure just that drives my boyfriend crazy.
I think it is one of my best qualities, but also a curse. No one has ever been able to really surprise me with anything because I notice the clues before it happens. But for this reason I am great at surprising others because I think of all the little details (this reminds me of my dad, who when opening Christmas presents would always state what he believed it was before he opened it - he was never wrong, and people thought he had some magic ability, but really he just paid close attention to things around him...I find myself doing the same thing with gifts now ). I wouldn't say I disregard the bigger picture though; I see the little details as pieces of a larger puzzle that I must step back and look upon from time to time to appreciate. And yes, I agree that I don't understand why people care so much about the little details on TV shows or movies. I guess I notice them but just don't care.
I suspect that the greatest obstacle you faced in understanding that particular "debate" was that you simply never bothered to read any of it, instead satisfying yourself with assuming that you knew what it was all about. Remaining oblivious to a thing in its entirety might be one way of approaching it, but that's far from being the same as lacking competence due to "not paying attention to certain details".
On topic: If I'm not mistaken, poor spelling ability may more likely be the result of an actual reading or learning disorder than it would merely not caring as much about those details. Such a disorder might also be at the root of faulty word choice, but that's me guessing - someone with expert knowledge in the field of language learning and of teaching those with learning disorders of this kind would be more than welcome to correct me.
Some people just have a mental block about certain things. I know a young lady-- M'Sharak will know who I mean-- who is very intelligent and well educated, but is an atrocious speller. For me, it's numbers. Whenever I try to comprehend complex math, it's like the numbers slither down a black hole in my brain.
What bothers me is aggressive low standards; when people angrily promote their belief that being wrong is just as good as being right. And unprofessionalism. More and more, in professional publications and websites, I see Internet misspellings creeping in. The Internet is great for spreading knowledge, but, unfortunately, it's just as good at spreading misinformation.
What bothers me is aggressive low standards; when people angrily promote their belief that being wrong is just as good as being right. And unprofessionalism. More and more, in professional publications and websites, I see Internet misspellings creeping in. The Internet is great for spreading knowledge, but, unfortunately, it's just as good at spreading misinformation.
I suspect that the greatest obstacle you faced in understanding that particular "debate" was that you simply never bothered to read any of it, instead satisfying yourself with assuming that you knew what it was all about. Remaining oblivious to a thing in its entirety might be one way of approaching it, but that's far from being the same as lacking competence due to "not paying attention to certain details".
On topic: If I'm not mistaken, poor spelling ability may more likely be the result of an actual reading or learning disorder than it would merely not caring as much about those details. Such a disorder might also be at the root of faulty word choice, but that's me guessing - someone with expert knowledge in the field of language learning and of teaching those with learning disorders of this kind would be more than welcome to correct me.
I checked the research, the higher the level of intelligence, the worst they are at spelling and that stuff - so they find that people with PhDs in high paid jobs spell worse than people pumping gas or walking the till at McDonalds. Nobody knows why.
Well that explains it all! Next time I see someone on a forum with shitty spelling, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they're PHD level geniuses, and anyone who can put together a whole paragraph without any errors must be a McDonalds employee with nothing better to do than check their spelling.
Must be some kind of crazy-ass bell curve, because I somehow ended up smart, and with the ability to spell.
Must be some kind of crazy-ass bell curve, because I somehow ended up smart, and with the ability to spell.