Is word spelling still important in any written communication?

1. 71

   DON BALDERASposted 14 years ago

   Is word spelling still important in any written communication?

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   1. 81

      NateSeanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Care to elaborate?
      
      Obviously solid grammar is key to making other people realize that you're not a lost cause. Beyond that, I suppose there are limitations.

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      1. 71

         DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Good writing I believe carries careful use of words and spelling.

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      classicalgeekposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Considering that a misspelling can completely change the meaning of a word, yes. Consistent misspellings can make your text unreadable.
      
      This reminds me of a Benny Hill episode, where he was having trouble getting the actors to say the lines properly. One was meant to ask, "What's that in the road ahead?" and instead asked "What's that in the road, a head?"

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      1. 71

         DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         That's funny. That would be tragic for a speaker. But if it is intentional, then it must be something. Thanks.

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   3. 70

      Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes.

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   4. 0

      CollBposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes definitely as your written words replace spoken words on the internet, unless it's a podcast or online broadcast.  If the sentence or article has lots of spelling mistakes, it detracts from its content thus rendering it incomprehensible, as the gist of what has been expressed gets lost in the reader trying to figure out what 'has been written'.
      
      The online dictionary is useful for this reason and should be used if in doubt!

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      1. 71

         DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         It might look like a maze in a forest.

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   5. 60

      qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      ....yep!
      
      Qwark

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   6. 75

      Uninvited Writerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Definitely, otherwise people might misunderstand what you are trying to say.

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      Sophia Angeliqueposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Well, yes, if you want the important people to take you seriously.

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   8. 67

      psycheskinnerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes.
      
      Or more specifically: bad spelling impairs communication.

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   9. 69

      Don Fairchildposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      OK, here is the deep thinking answer to your question.   Civilization has always striven to try and better themselves as they muddle their way through life.
      When reading anything I try to find a level of talent and expertise that is greater than my own.   In this way I am bettering myself by being discriminating about what I read.
      When you ask me to ignore your failings in spelling, I have to wonder what other failings you have and if they are of interest to me.   
      Try going through life to be better than you are now, you will have a richer and fuller life.

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2. 0

   Motown2Chitownposted 14 years ago

   Yes, it is.  Unless you are writing in a language that allows for more than one correct spelling of a word (such as English, e.g. color, colour - humor, humour), you have a responsibility as a writer to spell correctly so that it does NOT detract from the value of your writing.  If it does, and becomes bothersome to the reader, they're going to walk away from what you have to say - not because you aren't saying it well, but because you appear to have given no thought to its presentation.  Just my opinion.

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   1. 82

      Rafiniposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      omg, I totally agree with you!  but, I gotta wonder, why are there many writers with poor spelling, grammer, punctuation, and a limited vocabulary so successful?

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   2. 71

      DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Writing is for the readers. By being careful with word spelling, you also take care of your readers.

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   3. 71

      DON BALDERASposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      What do you thing would be its effects? to the writer? and to the written article?

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         Sophia Angeliqueposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         No credibility by anyone who is educated.

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3. 59

   knolyourselfposted 14 years ago

   "Is word spelling still important in any written communication?" Only if you don't care if you appear to be an idiot.

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   1. 71

      DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Correct, care for readers is important.

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4. 68

   truthfornowposted 14 years ago

   Yes, especially in regards to the purpose of your communication.  Obviously, text messages might involve spelling shortcuts and cover letters for job interviews should contain proper spelling and grammar.

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   1. 71

      DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I agree.

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5. 67

   Ivorwenposted 14 years ago

   Know!  You're spllng & grmmr dont rilly matter two anywon. There out a dated an ot too be tost. 

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   1. 71

      DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      This is funny. You're consistent.

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6. 61

   dml42posted 14 years ago

   Spelling is critical if you want to be taken seriously.  The power of the word is highly diminished by not taking the time to spell your words right.

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   1. 71

      DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      True.

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7. 98

   Rochelle Frankposted 14 years ago

   If am not a perfect speller by any means, but I do take the trouble to try to do it right.
   
   If everyone is consistent, it is so much easier to avoid misunderstanding-- which can be the cause of serious conflict.
   
   In writing, which does not include the advantages of facial expression, gestures, tonal fluctuations and body language-- it is all the more important to take care in using correct and consistent forms as much as possible.

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   1. 71

      DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Writers do have to take an effort to check whether they have written their words correctly or not. It's not really a one-shot deal.

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8. 85

   WriteAngledposted 14 years ago

   Absolutely! Consistently poor spelling (and poor grammar) destroys the author's credibility in my view.

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   1. 71

      DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Who would want to be troubled by words in this troubled world?

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9. 76

   tnderhrt23posted 14 years ago

   For me as a reader, bad spelling will lose me quicker than anything. As a writer, spelling absolutely lends to credibility, in my opinion. Spelling, grammar and structure are critical to effective, intelligent communication, in my book.

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   1. 71

      DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I would like to have a copy of that book you wrote. Thanks.

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10. 71

    earnestshubposted 14 years ago

    Spelling is an interesting problem.
    My spelling in any language but English sucks! Some would say I ain't too good in English either! I speak and spell Australian English OK though!
    
    Seriously, I think it matters, I trip over words when they are misspelled. It breaks in to my mind somehow.
    I wish I didn't make any errors, but am still finding them in older articles I have written.

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    1. 71

       DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Spelling indicates education.

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11. 60

    Amelia Blickposted 14 years ago

    Spelling, grammar and punctuation do matter.
    
    This reminds me of that sentence where a mis-placed comma changes the meaning of a sentence entirely:
    
    'It's time to eat grandmother.'
    
    as opposed to
    
    'It's time to eat, grandmother.' ;-)

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    1. 71

       DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       That;s funny.

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12. 60

    Scosgroveposted 14 years ago

    As a reader, whenever I encounter spelling errors in a post, the author immediately loses authority over their writing.
    
    It's all about credibility. If you're doing an article on "dachshunds" and the first sentence is, "Dacksuns are a small dog," the majority of readers will immediately stop reading.

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    1. 71

       DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Right. I have come across books containing misspelled words and they are contaminating even the readers' minds especially those who believe that everything in the books speaks of truth.
       Thanks Scosgrove.

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13. 86

    Genna Eastposted 14 years ago

    I can answer this question in one word:  Yes.
    
    Whether love letters, cover letters with resumes, memos, etc. spelling counts. Poor spelling reveals a lot about the author.

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    1. 71

       DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Ha ha. I remember a signage which spells 'VOLGANIZING' for vulcanizing. But for people who don't really mind it, as long as it sounds the same, word spelling really doesn't matter.

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14. 64

    Lisa HWposted 14 years ago

    I'm a big fan of correct spelling. People who have more trouble with spelling than others have the benefit of spell checker.  It definitely matters in anything other than, maybe, personal notes/letters to a loved one who doesn't care if the one who wrote them can spell. 

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    1. 71

       DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Yeah, right. Anybody needs to observe correct spelling of words, careful and meticulous. Thanks Liza HW.

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       cindi hposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I too am a huge fan of the English language. It remains my biggest pet peeve when I hear or see words misspelled or mispronounced. I believe the written, as well as the verbal, usage of words is a veritable indication of one's intelligence.

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15. 61

    Esquaeposted 14 years ago

    I think it's an absolute disgrace that I work with some people who have a university degree and they can't even spell simple words.
    
    One of my colleagues said that they accidently wrote "Invalid" (Disabled or handicapped person) when they meant to write "Invalid" (Incorrect). They were shocked to find out that they are both written the same.
    
    It makes it even worse that we are English

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16. 59

    sannyasinmanposted 14 years ago

    “Spelin en gramer duznt matte nomor. Itz not wot yu sez orrite, itz ow much yuk an saye it fur ow long meny werds, innit”?

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    1. 71

       DON BALDERASposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       nose bleed...

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17. 73

    wwriterposted 13 years ago

    Writing with correct spelling and grammar make it easier on the reader. Taking the time to spell check shows that you care for the reader.

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    1. 71

       DON BALDERASposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       How would a reader react should there be a misspelled word?

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18. 60

    jessicaaleighposted 13 years ago

    I think it is always important. I get so frustrated (even in texting) when people use "u" instead of "you," "2" instead of "two" or "to/too." I think using abbreviations and texting language makes you kind of seem like a joke, or ignorant, to be honest.

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    1. 71

       DON BALDERASposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Which would you think matters in texting, the spelling or the message sent?

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          Sophia Angeliqueposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Well, if the message is basic, it's not an issue. However, when writing, the message is seldom basic, and adequate understanding to the reader is important.

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    abbykorinneleeposted 12 years ago

    Spelling should be important as I think it can change the tone of what your saying.  I don't tthink in texting it matters to many.  The shortening and abbrievations make it easier to keep the sentances short. However as I learned from a friends mistake on little miss in text like not putting an LOL down can really affect what you are saying and cause problms in the friendship.  It also is how sometimes we judge the intelligence of others.  I am an awful speller:)

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20. 59

    bookkusposted 12 years ago

    Spelling is important if you want to be taken seriously. It is like talking with grammar.
    If you can't spell how can you create a quality argument or give important information when you can't master the basics of speech. Sure if you have a reputation it might not matter, but to strangers it is the first impression.
    
    What if I wrot lik thes the hole time? Wood you truste my ides the first time yu met me?
    
    I don't think you would. You would stop reading.

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21. 81

    SimeyCposted 12 years ago

    You have asked this on a site where people write to try and make a living, so the answer will always be yes. Ask a classroom full of teenagers who are busy texting and they'll say no. The English language adapts and changes over time - words such as texting, sexting etc. now exist in the dictionary because they are widely used. Many common words we all use today have adapted over time - it's a natural element of the language for spelling to change over time. What we consider correct spelling today can and will change over time!
    
    Of course I believe that we should encourage good spelling and grammar....

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