Why do people feel so superior because they can spell?

[suzanna1066@comcast.]

I'm guilty. I tend to assume that poor spellers are 1. Not very bright or 2. Lazy.
I am pretty good at spelling, however, if I do not know the spelling, I look it up which isn't difficult at all in the Internet age.
That said, no one should be made fun of for being a weak speller.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm a great speller. It's just something I've always been good at (look at me ending a sentence with a preposition ).

Do you know the classic example that violates this rule? "What did you bring the book I didn't want to be read to out of up for?" (five sentence-ending prepositions, if anybody cares ).

MushyMushy - there's a big difference between not being able to spell, and not caring whether one spells correctly or uses the right word. It's obvious your daughter falls into the first category. My dad and brother did, too. No idea why - people didn't test for such things back then; you just adjusted or adapted.

May I come by and help you talk some sense into those 'friends'?

 

[vettechick99]

I say this VERY tongue-in-cheek: Good spellers have to lord it over everyone else because they are *usually* pretty crappy in math. And we all know that math and science get ALL the glory in this country.

I've always been a great speller but very weak in math.

That's me!

 

[MushyMushy]

I don't know but it's a sin I've been guilty of. Poor spelling makes me cringe.

Oh, it totally makes me cringe! I sit there with a mental red marker and correct everything in sight.

But my external reaction is totally different. If someone asks for help or a correction, I'll give it as matter of factly as I can, but if the person doesn't ask, I don't. I don't feel the need to correct anybody unless they are MY child or my student.

Speaking of ending a sentence with a preposition, have you all heard this joke?

Two women are sitting next to each other on a plane. The first woman says, "Where are you flying to?" The second woman replies in a snotty tone, "Don't you know you're not supposed to end a sentence with a preposition?" The first woman retorts, "Where are you flying to, JERK?" Only the word isn't jerk. My friends and I say that to each other all the time. But we're English geeks.

 

[MushyMushy]

Do you know the classic example that violates this rule? "What did you bring the book I didn't want to be read to out of up for?" (five sentence-ending prepositions, if anybody cares ).

MushyMushy - there's a big difference between not being able to spell, and not caring whether one spells correctly or uses the right word. It's obvious your daughter falls into the first category. My dad and brother did, too. No idea why - people didn't test for such things back then; you just adjusted or adapted.

May I come by and help you talk some sense into those 'friends'?

Oh boy, I was angry when I heard it -- just the whole defensive mom thing started rearing its ugly head! But I simply walked in and said "whatcha doin?" to them and they told me they were reading her story, then the girl reading it out loud made a comment about the spelling. I brushed it off and said, "Some of the smartest people I know are the worst spellers." Then I shared how bad I am in math, and the three girls started telling DD what they weren't so good at.

But it just made me realize what a long haul it's going to be for her if she doesn't learn to compensate!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I say this VERY tongue-in-cheek: Good spellers have to lord it over everyone else because they are *usually* pretty crappy in math. And we all know that math and science get ALL the glory in this country.

I've always been a great speller but very weak in math. I agree with the poster upthread who says that with spelling, you either have it or you don't. I've believe that's true with math. I could work on math forever and really never be good at it. It just confounds me. So, I think that's why spellers get their superiority complex.

Happily posting as one member of a family that disproves your theory ... I iz ann eggzelend speeleah end Iy kan ad nombrez inn muy hedd eezelee...

No, seriously. I just happen to be able to spell great, but also know when to use spell-check (rarely, but I use it) and I have a talent doing for simple math in my head. Forget calculus, trig, etc., and I know I need paper for the little bit of algebra or geometry I could still do .

On the other hand, the entire superiority complex went to my brother; I know my limitations! It's hard for me to learn what I don't already know. I think my brain is full of spelling, math, and Disney information!

 

[Christine]

Happily posting as one member of a family that disproves your theory ... I iz ann eggzelend speeleah end Iy kan ad nombrez inn muy hedd eezelee...

No, seriously. I just happen to be able to spell great, but also know when to use spell-check (rarely, but I use it) and I have a talent doing for simple math in my head. Forget calculus, trig, etc., and I know I need paper for the little bit of algebra or geometry I could still do .

On the other hand, the entire superiority complex went to my brother; I know my limitations! It's hard for me to learn what I don't already know. I think my brain is full of spelling, math, and Disney information!

Oh there are always those exceptions!!!

I work with two engineers who are brilliant in every way. They've got the math down, they are excellent writers, and have no problems with spelling whatsoever! I'm really in awe of them! I am so math challenged it is sad (and I work in finance!!). If they ever had a Math Bee, I'd be in big trouble.

 

[tzolkin]

The only time I really have issues with poor spelling or grammar are signs. If you're making a sign or having something printed for a business/event/etc it just seems lazy to have errors. Spelling has always been easy for me, but even I will check things like that over multiple times.

Both my parents and my DH cannot spell. They are all very intelligent. My dad is a math guy (engineer), but my mom and DH write well but must have a person (me ) look over anything they write because their spelling is so poor that even spell check doesn't fix everything. I remember being in first grade when my mom started handing me notes she was sending with me to school to proof read. Once my handwriting was nice enough, she would tell me what to write and then just sign it.

 

[bettymae1121]

Spelling is NOT my strong suit. Funny thing is, that once spell check became common place, my spelling actually got better. I found I was spelling the same dozen or so words wrong all the time, and as I constantly corrected them, I eventually learned how to spell them right to begin with.

I don't tend to use spell check for posting on message boards. I do my best to attempt to spell things right, and I will use spell check if I know I'm totally butchering something, but as I post for fun and entertainment, I'm just not going to put that much effort into it.

As for people on message boards ripping other posters for bad spelling...I feel that if they are resorting to picking on spelling errors, then they lost whatever debate they were having. It would be like if you are having a verbal debate and you make a really good point, and the other person replies with "Yeah, but your shoes are ugly!"

 

[kaytieeldr]

but my mom and DH write well but must have a person (me ) look over anything they write because their spelling is so poor that even spell check doesn't fix everything.

Oh, sure - I'll do that for anyone. Not to show off, but simply because I can, and I enjoy it. I'll also check grammar if the person wants.

 

[aduck126]

I love a good prescriptivism vs. descriptivism debate.

 

[Arielle22]

When my dd was in grammar school (about 3rd grade) she asked me how to spell a word. I told her to get the dictionary and look it up.

Her reply "if I don't know how to spell it how will I find it in the dictionary?"

Dh and I got a good laugh out of that one.

 

[Darsa]

I am an awesome speller; there aren't many words I can spell wrong, and seeing words spelled incorrectly makes my brain hurt. That being said, I don't feel superior about it; exasperated when people spell SIMPLE words wrong and don't seem to give a rat's hiney, yes. Superior, nope. Mostly because I know that if I was given anything more involved than a simple mathematical equation I'd be completely lost; my DD14 hasn't come to me for math help in several years now

If I come across as superior, I'll have to apologize. It's certainly not my intention, and I'm happy to assist others in spelling difficult words. As a matter of fact, today my boss and I had a conversation similar to this; she has a BS degree in English Lit, and can't spell a lot of words I'd consider basic. I mentioned the fact that misspelled words jump out at me like a mugger, and she chuckled but doesn't realize that 99% of that jumping comes from her correspondence.

 

[cheermom1]

Spelling is NOT my strong suit. Funny thing is, that once spell check became common place, my spelling actually got better. I found I was spelling the same dozen or so words wrong all the time, and as I constantly corrected them, I eventually learned how to spell them right to begin with.

I don't tend to use spell check for posting on message boards. I do my best to attempt to spell things right, and I will use spell check if I know I'm totally butchering something, but as I post for fun and entertainment, I'm just not going to put that much effort into it.

As for people on message boards ripping other posters for bad spelling...I feel that if they are resorting to picking on spelling errors, then they lost whatever debate they were having. It would be like if you are having a verbal debate and you make a really good point, and the other person replies with "Yeah, but your shoes are ugly!"

Exactly!! I can see if it was for work or something important but a mess. board for entertainment??? NO. And if people feel the need to correct then that is their prob. not mine. IF a person asks to be corrected or asks for the help then do it but if they don't leave them alone this is supposed to be fun not top make people feel bad b/c they can't spell or make a mistake. Most of the time when someone spells something wrong or makes a mistake it can still be read and understood. What is the point of pointing it out if you were not asked to do so??? Only reason I can think is to make yourself feel good by tearing someone else down!

FYI I do use firefox b/c i know I'm a bad speller but still it can't fix everything. and as this poster said this is not where I'd like to put that much effort into for some entertainment.

 

[terri01p]

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would say most of the time when people post on here they are just quickly getting on here and saying their opinion, not reading and rereading what they wrote to make sure all is correct.

You're entitled to your opinion. It matters to me that what I'm trying to say is clear and understandable. Given that, yes, I will read and possibly reread my post before I submit it; if I see errors after it's posted, I'll correct them. If it doesn't matter to others that readers be able to easily determine what's being said, well...

 

[terri01p]

 

[cheermom1]

You're entitled to your opinion. It matters to me that what I'm trying to say is clear and understandable. Given that, yes, I will read and possibly reread my post before I submit it; if I see errors after it's posted, I'll correct them. If it doesn't matter to others that readers be able to easily determine what's being said, well...

You are untitled to make sure YOURS is correct but that doesn;t mean you should correct other especially if they don;t ask for it.

Good for you but that certainly doesn't give you the right to correct others, right?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Good for you but that certainly doesn't give you the right to correct others, right?

What gives me the "right" to correct others is if they ask to be corrected
Note that this is the only instance in which I have that "right" - or honor, rather, since it's an honor to be asked.

On the other hand, when somebody starts a thread venting about bad grammar, I have the absolute right to participate. No individual* is being attacked in that thread, we're merely discussing blatant misuse. While not everybody in that thread is bothered by the same mistakes, each person is bothered by someone. It's a pleasant thread; nobody's arguing, nobody's attacking, and nobody's feelings are being hurt. If anyone sees themselves in any offense mentioned, it's purely unintentional.

*exception: one person asked if something they say is correct, and got a specific response.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You are untitled to make sure YOURS is correct but that doesn;t mean you should correct other especially if they don;t ask for it.

Sure. I should have been more clear. Instead of

If it doesn't matter to others that readers be able to easily determine what's being said, well...

I should have said "If it doesn't matter to others that readers be easily able to determine what they are trying to say, well, that's up to those posters".

I may be guilty of it occasionally, but I don't recall correcting other posters' spelling or grammar, especially recently, with the exception noted above (although I see lots of places I could )