August 1, 2011
Today’s Bit of Advice….
“Spell Words Correctly”
This advice may sound a bit preachy or snobbish (or, more likely, hypocritical since I do have a close relationship with the automatic spell check and correct feature of my word processer). I believe that there is a strong connection between an individual’s ability to spell words correctly and the perceived overall intelligence and wisdom of said individual. You could have a very high IQ yet your inability to spell words correctly will lead others to believe that you are under-educated and they may not take you seriously.
For example: I was just reading an essay about a woman who was cleaning her house. She mentioned that she had spent the morning cleaning her cubbords and draws. Whether you like it or not, you’ve created an image of this woman in your mind based on her ability to spell correctly. (And if you still haven’t figured out what she was cleaning, re-read those words and say them out loud).
But is it really a spelling issue? Perhaps it is a lifestyle issue. Growing up, this woman’s family may have always pronounced the words as “cubbords” and “draws”. We’ve just experienced an entire generation of children for whom spelling words correctly was not enforced. The Whole Language Movement didn’t stress spelling as strongly as others aspects of language development. Maybe the woman was just doing what she was taught.
It may be wrong of me but I use spelling errors as a guide in shopping for a deal. When I was in the market to buy a good, used band instrument for our son I went to Craigslist and searched for a “saxaphone”. If you don’t know how to spell it, you might also not know exactly what the value of the item really is.
While poking around Craigslist I found many other items of interest like:
• Popozon chairs
• Armwars
• Steros
• A Shower Enclosurey
There are common spelling mistakes that many of us make from time to time like its vs. it’s, and effect vs. affect. But adults really should know how to properly use accept vs. except, advice vs. advise, who’s vs. whose, then vs. than, etc.
Two mistakes I often see that drive me really nuts are passed vs. past and quiet vs. quite. I always cringe when I read “My grandma past away on Saturday.” Or “I couldn’t get the kids to quite down.”
I’m complaining about spelling errors but I have to admit that sometimes children’s spelling errors can be quite cute. They spell words exactly the way they sound. I was eating lunch in the staff room at school one day when a teacher brought in a paper written by a 3rd grade student. The assignment dealt with foods that we eat at different meals. The student had included “paskete” as a dinner food. The teacher could not decipher the word and asked the other teachers at the table to give it a shot. Took a few minutes but we got it. Can you?
Hope you enjoyed the read!
