Why can't people spell properly?

Question

If English is their primary language, why do people have such difficulty spelling words in the correct context? If you can't spell it should you be allowed to write it?
Your - You're
There - Their
Peeking - Peaking - Peking
Here - Hear
It bugs the hell out of me.

In response to Paula M;
I'm not worrying about the actual spelling, it's the minds of the people doing it. They can remember all the actors' names on Eastenders or Coronation St or the PIN for their ATM card, but can't remember where to put an apostrophe or know which word is correct. Would you employ somebody whose C.V was littered with spelling mistakes? It's a reflection on the person.

Some great answers here.
I'm so indecisive that I'll have to put this to the vote.

Answer 1

WELL BECAUSE THEY CANT SPELL!!!! DUH

Answer 2

When I was in college and writing term papers, I was told that the English language was the hardest language in the world to learn to speak and write because we have such a diversity of meanings for so many words.

Some examples:

#1: I'll have a blue Christmas without you.
BLUE can mean sad or it can mean a color.

#2: Our flag is red, white, and blue.
Does that mean our flag is READ, white, and SAD?

#3: I can't believe you got a bug.
BUG could be a creepy crawly or an illness (flu).

I hope that the majority of us have learned what was attempted to be taught to us while we were in school, but seeing the spellings on this forum, I can really see where you are coming from. I know you are not trying to be critical, but I've had a lot of trouble myself trying to understand the spellings of some of these words placed here and then trying to decipher their meanings. English has always been one of my favorite subjects and if I came across a word or phase that I wasn't familiar with, I took the time to LOOK IT UP because I was sure I would come across it again. 98% of the time, I did come across the word again. The dictionary has always been one of my favorite books. Guess I've always been a curious-type person when it come to words.

Early learning is the key. Chances are, if you missed it in your early school years, you will continue to skim your way through life and the rest of us will spend our time trying to figure out what you are trying to say. By the way, FIGURE can mean to "cipher" as in numbers (old term), a symbol, or to try to find meaning. :)

I don't pretend never to make a mistake, I'm not perfect. However, I will say one thing: I made all A's in my English and Composition courses (even though that was years ago).

Answer 3

Try being a teacher and marking Year 6 work. I feel like I'm nagging or talking to the deaf.

I've seen letters from adults that make me think that they are thick because of the spelling mistakes.

But I have to say that I've caught myself using the wrong there/their recently in work. In my case it was rushed work but I am glad I caught it - to have not checked it would have been lazy. That's what I put most spelling mistakes down to - lack of time and laziness.

I can't take away from those that really struggle though, and it can be for many reasons. So my final thought has to be, try not to be swayed by first opinions - give people the opportunity to communicate in the ways that they feel most comfortable. Only then will you be able to judge the true character, (if you must).

Answer 4

Thank you so much, I really thought I was one of the only ones who got annoyed at that, unfortunately I'm not very good at punctuation, but I try to always use the spell checker, the trouble is, the spell checker doesn't even know where to put apostrophes, and doesn't know whether we mean, there or their or they're etc. et. Yes it does annoy me too. Some people just haven't been taught correct grammar, spelling and punctuation, I do know certain schools are more bothered about the children doing better at sports than academic studies.

Answer 5

People make mistakes.
There's a difference between not knowing the correct spelling, and making a mistake.

When people type on a computer, they make these errors with greater regularity. Often, people will 'dictate' the sentences to themselves in their minds. The words can easily be typed as they sound, in error, such as using "their" instead of "they're".
This has nothing to do with a person's understanding of grammar.

This occurs much less when people write by hand because most people cannot write quickly enough to dictate their thoughts as if through speech. They are more often thinking a complete thought and then crafting their sentences visually on the page.

Typing on a keyboard creates the speed to dictate 'speech' and type by 'sound', allowing for more errors.

Answer 6

Some people do not understand the use of contractions. So they see no reason to spell a word right. You're is really you are.
So many words sound alike but have different spellings for different meanings... sometimes it is just easier to spell a word the same way all the time.
Since learning disabilities weren't recognized until recently many people just never were taught how to tell the difference.

Answer 7

OH GOOD GRIEF! This is won of the most annoying aspics of any public four um. How difficult is it two get things write? That's what spell chequers are four, so you no weather you halve spilt anything wrong. If your dyslexic then it might bee understandable, but their is know reel excuse other than laziness.
I think its be course we aren't taut properly.
My pea see has a spell chequer that revues any spelling miss steaks eye halve maid and high lights them sew eye no and can putt them rite. I rare lea get things wrong when I put an article threw. :o)
I think the problem has more to do with our inability to differentiate between the different spellings - then again, considering the grammar used on some questions and answers, I think spelling is the least of our worries.
Keep up the crusade!

Answer 8

Some schools and teachers allowed their students to pass to the next grade because of sports in some areas. Also, students don't pay attention or do their homework or use the basic "sounding out of words". In some elementary schools, teachers pass their students if they were good in math, science, and other subjects because they used the total percentage of all subjects for an overall grade. By the time the students were in high school, they already could not spell.

Answer 9

I too notice that a lot of people can't spell properly. There are a variety of reasons for this. One thing I notice with my teenage boys is that they aren't taught properly in school. We had to learn to spell along with reading. Spelling isn't taught properly today. Another reason is the abbreviations people use when they email and text message each other. Proper spelling is forgetten. Also, some people just can't be bothered to use a spell check.

Answer 10

I usually always notice mistakes like that myself, even the technical manager at work does it, he often asks me to proof read documents for him. People use different parts of the brain for different functions & spelling and grammar are actually different from remembering a soap stars names. I have a lousy memory but I mostly get my spelling right because that part of my brain is stronger than other parts. There are things that bad spellers will be able to do far better than you & I can. We can't all be good at everything.

Answer 11

I reckon it's because so many of our teachers don't seem to be able to spell these days either. It really annoys the hell out of me too. I get to read a lot of local newspapers on a daily basis and it's amazing how many of the above spelling mistakes (and many more) appear.