Why are people so concerned about spelling?

Question

Obviously, if you receive a formal letter, you would expect decent grammar and spelling. On a site like this, why would you worry whether the spelling is correct.

So many people on here ignore the fact that a questioners intent and meaning is clear, and focus instead on the spelling.

Do people think that by insulting or correcting others that they some power or superiority or something?

That is my best guess. Some vain attempt at appearing smart?

Oops I missed out a word, I wonder if someone will be 'kind' enough to point it out.

If it shows a lack of care and respect for the reader, then does the lack of care and respect by the rude "spelling nazi" answerer outweigh the lack of care by the writer?

Thanks Bambi, I've created a new monster... the apostrophe nazi!!!!

Somber, 2 of your recent questions are about farts!

Answer 1

I think a person should take pride in his or her spelling in all instances--not just when writing a formal letter. When I read a question here that's filled with errors (spelling, grammar and punctuation) it immediately makes me lose respect for that person, and my first thought is, "What a nitwit." I can understand if it's a matter of spelling large or uncommon words incorrectly, but when you can't spell words such as "yesterday," "tonight" or "pregnant," (to name a few) then there's something wrong somewhere. Why should a person be proud to be a poor speller? Shouldn't they take pride in themselves and their ability?

My problem isn't so much with spelling errors as it is with this ****ing abbreviating that so many people seem so fond of. "ur" for "You are," "ppl" for people, etc. Are they THAT lazy that they have to omit letters from a word? When questions are posted that are written entirely in this abbreviated garbage, most of the time I can't even read them. Especially since most people who write like this leave out crucial punctuation marks. Honestly, when I see posts like that, this is what I see:

alsjkdfalkdsfj;alskd wpoetiyqowiet2304ualsja;sldjf a;sldkj;alkrtja;lsdkj laskjal;sjla ;aljsepqiurpqwuemamvmnga oweijoajaks

I read, write and speak English...not whatever language it is these people are typing.

Answer 2

Believe it or not, if your post is full of errors people think of it as a lack of intelligence. It doesn't mean you are not intelligent but that's what some people think. Besides, if you mis-spell something the reader might not understand what you are trying to say and get the wrong message. If you had to think about what each word meant instead for just reading it ,it would take twice as long to read anything. I don't know about you but I have better things to do with my time then decode posts.

If you have an error or 2 it no big deal. We are human and do make mistakes.

I don't see why there are any errors on Answers - just hit the spell check button! Don't be in such a hurry to hit submit.

Answer 3

It isn't as much a shallow attempt at being smart.

Its just that there are way too many TOO TOO MANY questions being posted that are poorly conceived and worded very very badly, that sometimes it is very difficult to understand what the question is about. Often there are questions that make no sense what so ever, there are some posters who if you were to click their names - will find the histories of their questions asked, are the same questions posted over and over in the same subject or in different subjects.
Why would someone go to so much trouble to make trouble?
Boredom?

Then there are those of us who have been to taught that to make the world a better place to live in we must try to make it so some how. Though the current Pop-Culture champions ignorance and grammatical errors (hip-hop), it is no wonder that the younger users here really could care less about their own grammar and spelling.

It isn't vanity, not some kind of power trip, but why would someone purposefully use bad grammar and spelling, other than it is fashionable and to intentionally offend others because we were taught the difference between right and wrong. Where as they could care less themselves.

Answer 4

Some of the spelling is bad enough to make the meaning unclear. A typo or two is no big deal, but why must spelling and grammar be slovenly? And unfortunately, I have received formal letters containing mistakes in spelling and grammar - and I am not even a grammarian.

Answer 5

Spelling is important because verbal communication is the only means by which humans have of interrelating with each other. The written word of course the only way to record those interactions. We all agree on how to spell a word, so that the recorded relations can be shared by everyone. Thus bringing the world closer together, by not allowing our language to revert to animal grunts.

Answer 6

It's hard to understand a lot of misspellings sometimes. This might be why people care. Another reason they might care is because people expect a certain level of knowledge with regard to the language when someone is using the language in written form. In other words, people might assume that if you can't spell well that you can't think well. I forget who said it, but someone once said, "The limits of my language are the limits of my world." People might think that thought range is limited because knowledge of the written word is limited.

That said, there are plenty of intelligent people who can't spell for crap. I had a student once who was a genius, but to try to read his awful handwriting and atrocious spelling was so hard. I never did figure out why and how he could be so brilliant and yet so incompetent with the written word.

So, while bad spelling doesn't necessarily mean bad thinking--as there certainly are plenty of exceptions--it is somewhat irritating and takes patience to try to decipher something that is written poorly.

Answer 7

I don't believe it's a means of appearing smarter than someone else. At least, that is not the case for me. For me, it's a way of showing respect for our language. Our culture has started to equate education, intelligence, and refinement with superiority. At the same time, they have allowed ignorance, disrespect, and selfishness to become self-expression and identity. I believe it is very sad. I think we should take pride in our language and in being educated, not for superiority's sake, but out of respect for all the people that have fought, died, and sweated blood and tears to give us those freedoms and opportunities.

Answer 8

Some people are like that, but good spelling indicates that thought went into the writing, that you actually care enough about the reader to make it easy for them.

Answer 9

Because it's fun and it gets on people's nerves. AND IF YAHOO OFFERS A SPELL CHECK WHY NOT USE IT?
you forgot to put a ? after the word "correct " (you did ask a question). Also it's QUESTIONER'S. One more thing free points even if you don't know the answer!!

Answer 10

Good spelling means not tripping over stuff when trying to read it. Bad spelling = less respect.
But with my dyslectic typing (using three finger and a thumb), I can't crap on anyone elses spelling unless the do it deliberalteyl like the stupid text-messaging style.