Spelling

I can spell if I am writing with a pen or pencil but as soon as I start typing it all goes to pot.I blame the ease of spellchecker.

Probably due to not writing words so much nowadays. The writing we did back in the day gave us practise at spelling. Now we phone,text,email which are all kept short in the main.

I have always had a problem, I know how to spell a word but to write it or type it I mix the letters up . Example , took a phone call yesterday from a chap on the firm, they needed more cement, i sent note to my brother , more cemnet needed , I spell the word in my mind but write it jumbled up

✍ snap

Like other posts on here. I used up to be a good speller but now have to look up some words I would have easily been able to spell not that long ago. I blame a mixture of getting older and using social media.

Framilode Don't be discouraged. It's not just us common mortals who have trouble with spelling at a certain age: the famous writer C.J. Sansom has written "faun" instead of "fawn" (baby deer) on at least three occasions in his latest book - and on different pages, so it's not a typo!

I correct predictive text.

When I was teaching English I soon learnt that good spelling and good brains are not necessarily connected. Some very clever people just cannot spell. My brightest student was a hopeless speller, but her ideas were very creative and original.

Have always been an excellent speller - many thanks to my class teachers at Junior School. At age 16, I trained as a 'Touch Typist' and learned to spell with my fingers - even now, I often close my eyes and imagine typing a word out to ensure that I've got any 'double-letters' in their correct places ;-).

I have always been good at spelling. Does anyone remember spelling bees? I too hate acronyms and predictive spelling.

I'm so glad it's not just me. I used to be expert, but now find I'm having to look words up. It doesn't help that I'm studying French where similar words have a different spelling.

Like Marydoll, I was one of the "go to" people at work for spelling etc.
Now, frustratingly, I do find myself having to think twice about some words I used to always get correct without any effort. I'm convinced that spellcheckers and predictive text are partly to blame.
I also blame predictive text for the fact that I once sent a text message to a colleague telling him that I had locked all the protestants in the cupboard - it was meant to be "photostats" ( copies of assessments in our case). I managed to catch the one where I nearly asked the same colleague whether he wanted to see the erotica material (supposed to be verification material) - close call!

I certainly have deteriorated just lately. If I can't spell something I try to think of an easier alternative - if my brain cells have packed in I look in a thesaurus or dictionary. Spelling used to be one of my top subjects. Oh dear.

watermeadow LOL!!! 'Spaded' gets me too!! I'm also a bit of a pedant - in fact when he first met me, my husband's nickname for me was 'English'!

I was always very good at spelling but i get confused with words that end in either ley, ely, or lly. I have to google to make sure. I'm putting it down to ageing. That's my excuse anyway.

As a former very good speller, never having to work at spelling tests, I now find that I often have problems with words that formally would have just flown from my fingers. Old age I hope!

I think my spelling has deteriated because I've got used to using predictive text, just like calculators made our ability to do mental maths deteriate

I too used to be the "go to" person in the office for spelling. Now I often have to think if I am spelling correctly. I don't think it's down to predictive text as that often gives me completely different words. I think it is down to getting older. Prefer that to thinking it might be due to dementia!

I agree with all that has been said.

Jane43 me too.

Check your spelling sarahanew, deteriated? lol

None of it matters..... language /spelling evolves. Try reading early or Middle English !!

I ve always been a bit of Grammar/ spelling police and I think I still am as I hate seeing words incorrectly spelled. Now however I have more trouble remembering words that I ve been using all my life and it’s soooo frustrating x

This is the best post ever as my spelling, which was never that good, is terrible now and I thought it was me. Also for once I agree with GG, dupont agree much with her but this time you have hit the nail on the head.

I can’t say I get particularly upset by Americanisms. They took English to the New World centuries ago so of course it’s evolved over time. But I don’t like to hear it spoken this side of the pond. For their part they don’t use “fortnight” for the period of 2 weeks and say do not and can not rather than don’t and can’t which can come across as rather terse.

Saggi, agree. I recently found my Old English exam paper from university, I couldn't understand a single word of it!