3 reasons why spelling well matters
3 reasons why spelling well matters
Susan Pierotti, Creative Text Solutions
The older generations constantly complain that no one is able to spell correctly any more, ‘not like in our day’. The Gen Ys continue inventing creative and curious ways to spell in text messaging.
So who’s right? Has the end of the universe as we know it arrived, where no one even recognises bad spelling? Does anyone care? Does it even matter?
Spelingh korectlee
English spelling has really only been ‘standardised’ since the publication of dictionaries. In the 18th century. Dr Samuel Johnson’s enormous undertaking was admirable, but even his dictionary was neither comprehensive not objective. (Hence the famous description of ‘oats’: a food that in England is fed to horses and in Scotland feeds the people.’)
[caption id="attachment_189" align="alignright" width="111"]
Samuel Johnson[/caption]
Before that, people spelled either according to how it sounded, how it was written in other texts, or guessed. Men of letters even changed spelling to make words reflect their origins: the ‘b’ in ‘doubt’ and ‘debt’ were added to hark back to a supposed Latin source, words like ‘labour’ and ‘colour’ indicating they came from the French.
The Oxford Dictionary took a whopping 80 years to compile, and thereby suffered the fate of all dictionaries: it was out of date by the time it was printed.
Spelling correctly
So, why the obsession with spelling ‘properly’? Even though there have been spelling fashions, uniform spelling allows written communication to be understood by everyone. So if you want to be understood, it pays to write in a way that allows that to happen.
There are styles in spelling such as in advertising: ‘lite’ yoghurt, for instance, or ‘luv u xxx’ in a birthday card. It’s good to know which style is appropriate. But it is important to be able to spell well in every context.
3 good reasons for spelling well
1 It shows consideration for your reader
When you read something, your eye is seeing letters and your brain is transmitting that squiggle-code on the page into words and meaning. Anything that halts the brain in the middle of this process interferes with your concentration. If you have to do it too many times, no matter how unconscious you are of the process, you will eventually lose focus and give up reading.
Now put yourself in the writer’s shoes. Is that what you intended to happen – that someone would stop reading what you’ve written? No! So assist your reader by spelling well.
2 It makes you look smart
Who doesn’t want that! I don’t mean arrogant-smart, but literate. People will think you are cultivated and intelligent if you take the trouble to spell well.
3 It will help you get a job
Yes, it will! I have met the people in businesses who decide which CVs are worth keeping for the interview. They all say that multiple spelling mistakes on a CV means it gets chucked out on the reject pile.
Imagine – all your hard years of study, your unpaid work experience, your energy and creativity as a future employee, rejected because of spelling mistakes! Seems hard, but the HR person has to choose out of 300 which candidates go forward and if you insult them (remember, show consideration for your reader) they will return the favour.
Spelling is important. It enables us to understand and connect with one another.
However, if you are uneasy about your spelling capabilities, the services of a professional proofreading and copyediting service will assist you with accurate and comprehensible punctuation. Contact www.creativetext.com.au for further assistance.
