Why are people being so nasty about spelling mistakes?

Question

Don't you ever have any mistakes in printing? Or ever considered English is not everyone's native language?

Answer 1

Its my second language. There are always sharks out in the ocean some where ready to bite on the first mistake you make. Even using spell check does not alway catch the mistakes.

Answer 2

For two reasons, Rona_macarona. The first is that some of the spelling is so dreadful you really can't make out what the question is. Add that to careless grammar and it becomes a waste of time to even try to formulate a response.
Everyone makes mistakes in spelling -- but did you notice the Check Spelling (in bright blue letters) that lets you confirm your spelling with a click of your mouse? It couldn't be any easier.
English may not be everyone's native language, but did you ever consider that when you are learning a language, learning it incorrectly isn't much help. For people who are learning English as a second language, or a third or a fourteenth, being able to pick up spelling errors that quickly and easily is a real bonus.
I'm working on Spanish and often chat on the Spanish pages, and believe me, when you aren't fluent in the language that spell checker is like having a private tutor.

Answer 3

I've noticed that there are a lot of different types of people around here, & some aren't very nice, but others are. As for spelling in particular, it probably doesn't occur to them that English isn't everyone's native language. However, I I think they get a little more testy about spelling because there is a spell checker that can be used before a question or answer is posted.

It took me a few days to find it myself & when I'm in a hurry, I sometimes forget to use it too, so I make mistakes.

Don't give up on the the nice people who'll help though, they're out here too!

Answer 4

It depends whether it's one honest error, or a whole series of them. One can tell that a lot of these chronically poor spellers are just lazy English speakers, or young people writing as though it's a text message or using slang where it's not appropriate. There is no excuse for persistent mistakes from such people. I'm especially irked by an American who keeps asking about how to get into university, when his spelling and grammar are atrocious.

Those of us who point out spelling mistakes hope it has a salutary effect; we'd be happy if it weren't necessary. The spell check button, and a little care and attention, is an easy remedy.

Answer 5

I'm not nasty to people about spelling errors as I am prone to them myself but having a degree in Journalism just makes errors jump off the page at me! A lot of persons who responded mentioned the spell-check feature, however, that's not always foolproof either. Spelling errors indicate that you either aren't a native English speaker (as you mentioned), aren't meticulous about presentation or don't have strong grammar skills. The first one is forgivable as it isn't always easy translating from one tongue to another. The latter two are usually the 'bones of contention'. But, considering the atrocity that has become the public education system in America, I guess the latter two could be forgiven also. LOL!

Answer 6

As a slightly dyslexic person myself, my opinion on this issue maybe silghtly biased.
But i think any normal person would agree that IDEAS and OPINIONS are far more important than superficial issues like spellings and grammer . Especially in a non-phonatical language like English. Also as a person whose native language is not English, i absolutely agree with you that many of those whose native language is English are inconsiderate towards others.
If you can understand a person and grasp his opinions, then thats all matters.

Answer 7

It's one thing if it's not your native language, it's another when you are American or English and can't take the few seconds to correct mistakes. There is a spell check right on the page, it shows laziness not to use it. Slang is OK, but use the right spelling of proper words. I've even seen on Fox News their news ticker use the words 'affect' and 'effect' incorrectly and for a professional news agency that's unacceptable.

Answer 8

I get where your coming from, I've never been good at spelling. One of my 5th grade teacher even called me stupid because I couldn't spell, but got angry when I was able to write the definitions to all the vocabulary words without cracking a dictionary.

Some people are just annal like that. I try to keep a spelling dictionary for important things because spell check doesn't catch everything.

Answer 9

I think that a lot of people on here forget this is the world wide web. English is not the first language for many people on this site. I personally give them a lot of credit for making theselves understood. I don't speak any foreign language and can just barely speak English. Lighten up and just try and learn from the rest of the world.

Answer 10

There is a spell check built into Yahoo! Answers, which everyone should use. It's usually obvious when you're dealing with someone for whom English is a second language, and I'm willing to forgive bad grammar or spelling in that case. But when a question or answer is poorly spelled due to carelessness, it's fair game. For example, the recent question where someone asked "How do you dich school?" Clearly someone who shouldn't be thinking of ditching.