Why is spelling so important?

On Facebook, Twitter and in a general forum like this it isn't really important. The odd spelling mistake or typo doesn't change the sense of what someone is saying. And in some jobs people will never have to write reports, do CVs or analyse someone else's reports.

But many will have to do some or all of these things. I don't really believe the problem is not being able to spell - it's the lack of reading and becoming used to the pattern of different words.

I know two people who are dyslexic to different degrees - both know when to use 'bear' and 'their', although they might be spelled as 'baer' and 'thier'.

Both my daughters are dyslexic. Thankfully we were able to get help at the Dyslexia Institute in Newcastle. Both have what I would call poor spelling but my goodness, they have always spoken well, outgoing, confident and can hold their own in most situations.

As a retired teacher I cannot send a text or email without proof reading it for spelling errors. It just feels wrong to ignore spelling mistakes. I also think it shows some respect for the recipient if you have made the effort.

I agree spelling is important if it avoids confusion and aides understand. But. It’s very hard when you are judged and ridiculed for being dyslexic.

I have always found spelling easy, but I have known one or two extremely clever people whose spelling was appalling. I suppose it’s something to do with your visual sense - do you know if a word looks wrong?

Maybe he will come to a sticky end ixion

Homerton Hospital: Man jailed for 'viscous' attack on A&E nurse

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-55770240

As we speak.....

As DH used to say to his bottom set fourth formers (year 10), what will be people think if they read this? They’ll think we’re ignorant, sir! Still true, and a badly spelled and punctuated job application does its writer such a disservice. Always advise getting someone else to proof read before sending if you have good spelling but it wobbles like Owl..

As well as teaching reading I also tried to teach spelling .
Very difficult as I think english has more irregular spelling 'rules' than most languages.

I think it is probably a good idea to have a reasonable grip on accurate spelling but I’m not keen on pedants who just read to find fault.

I think for most of us on here spelling was a big part of our schooling. I remember starting most school days with spelling and mental arithmetic tests. I find that poor spelling really grates on me and I do think its important to be able to spell correctly. I instilled this in my children and then grandchildren. I still correct them on Whatsapp etc. My eldest granddaughter is a bit of a wordsmith and has been known to put me right on occasions.
I am an avid reader and can't stand the lack of proof reading in books nowadays.

I’ve just read a book written in Pidgin English and it was quite hard work, although for the most part I understood it. Likewise, I could read Dragonella’s post but I was concentrating on what working out the words were, rather than the meaning. I suppose it depends on what we are used to, though. American spellings are perfectly legible and I never really notice it when reading anything that was printed in the US.

It’s also important that words like hypotension and hypertension aren’t confused!

I entered a national writing competition a few months ago. I was very pleased to learn that my short story had been shortlisted for final judging with one of the judges being a lecturer for Creative Writing at Oxford University. I wasn't placed but when I received e-mail copies of the winning entries I was a bit taken aback to find that the story in 1st place had several spelling and punctuation mistakes.

I certainly do not claim to be top of the class in English grammar but there are a few words that grate on me when used incorrectly; there in place of their, were in place of where, of in place of have.........any plenty more.

However, I find lack of punctuation to be alarming too! My neighbour will frequently message me using NO capital letters and NO full stops; it often completely changes the meaning of the messages. There can be six or seven sentences per message, hard work trying to establish what he's trying to say!

I used to help out at DGS's primary school. One time they were writing fairy tales on the computers (year 2 i think). I kept seeing the words 'onsapona' and 'onsapontime'. It took me ages to work out it was meant to be ' once upon a time'.
My point is that it's not always easy to make out what the writer means.

Just read a few FB posts and you’ll see how true this is.
Spelling as it sounds will be great with all the phonics teaching there is around nowadays. I could read your post Dragonella but only because I can read anyway.
I remember DD1 being encouraged to write (in Y1 pre synthetic phonics) without worrying about spellings and no corrections. Having spelled words in a way that made sense to them for almost a year, some children found learning and remembering the correct spellings really difficult.
I was a mean mum. She loved to write at home, but I made her practice spelling common words and correct errors.

Spelling is literally my business. I don’t correct other people’s mis-spellings but it does grate. I find it annoying on school websites and official sites. On our local police Twitter feed I had to laugh at technical problems when they asked people ‘to “bare” with us’. Although that was really a homophone confusion.

What Dragonella wrote could be deciphered but it took more effort because the spellings were unfamiliar - and this, I think, is why we go for standardised spelling. It is quicker and easier to read.

Not bothering to learn to spell shows laziness and ignorance.

My daughter had dyslexia, I can tell you that her spelling has lead to many problems! Not so bad when the spelling is phonetic but at other times ?

Well Dragonella, I've read your post in Black Country

I think it prejudices people against you even if you are intelligent.Someone who uses bad grammar and spelling portrays an image as someone uneducated, a non reader and possibly not too bright.
The same is true when you see people interviewed on TV and they can't string a sentence together.They are presumed to be 'chavs,' or 'thick'. (Even if theyre not.)

Dragonella....I taught Primary. That makes perfect sense to me with no effort. Although I admit it was a skill I developed over time

I understood all that you wrote Dragonella.
Gave me a chuckle too.
I do dislike it when people correct you,as you say we know whats being written.