Do you find it disturbing that most of our young people can't spell?

Question

Reading some of these questions and answers, I am deeply disturbed at the lack of education displayed by the youth of today. Most can't spell the simplest words and have no idea of how to use punctuation or sentence structure. Educators in America should be ashamed. I am afraid for our future with these illiterates in control. What do you think the answer is?

Answer 1

I know what you mean. It seems some don't even try. They just put down what ever key they hit and leave it like that.

Answer 2

It is disgraceful and appears to be a worldwide issue with the young generation of today. The problem, I believe, stems from the over use of computers when they are learning in schools, while computers are valid learning tools, they encourage laziness, for example, when typing something into Word, it will spell check and grammar check, so nothing learned by the student. Mobile text speak is also at fault, and that boils down to parents allowing the child to have a mobile at too young an age. language does change over time, however, the language of a country does need to be protected by learning its full and correct use from an early age. I recall my days at school where an essay or piece of work would not even be looked at if it was not presented correctly, despite what its content may have been, bring back those times in schools and keep computers as a resource only.

Answer 3

I get to see many CVs every week and I sometimes can't even decipher the incorrect use of spelling and grammar. I have to tell many young people that they have no chance of getting any job that requires them to write reports or send business emails.
One CV I had recently the main paragraph was written like a text message! So it's as bad in the UK as it is in the States.
The answer is to make sure that children learn how to spell from the f 6 and to be taught correct use of grammar and punctuation from the age of 7.

Answer 4

Yes, agreed. I am very very disappointed. Even simple words are spelt incorrectly and grammar seems totally alien. I think it could be due to some fault in the education system. A lot of young people today are writing 'spoken and broken' english. And modern communication methods such as emails, chatting and sms where words are deliberately simplified have led to the erosion of the quality of written language to a large extent. This is another side to the negative effects of modern technology. The answer, I believe, lies in implementing vigorous methods to improve reading and writing skills and increasing the minimum passing marks/grades for both spoken and written language exams.

Answer 5

Not everyone in Yahoo answers comes from America. (But I have also observed that a lot of Americans cannot spell in English that well and do not have correct English grammar. A lot of times I see the word grammar is even misspelled as "GRAMMER")

But you have to wake up and realize that not everyone around the world are having the privilege to learn to read and write English. And some languages (such as Hindi, Japanese, Chinese, Arab, Thai, Korean, etc.) have different forms. So those who are educated enough are just trying their best to communicate in English the best way that they could. I say be more tolerant and give them the benefit of the doubt.

Answer 6

I dont think the grammar & spelling errors are because of the lack of education. Its because people are trying to type fast to get a message across quickly. This isn't for money after all. What you are witnessing is simply web chat.

Howerver, youngsters dont know how to spell (not you smart ones who actually do work hard in school) and they are pathetic anyhow. I cant blame the educators. Blame the media, internet & drugs

Answer 7

Some of it is just the way you spell on the internet.But unfortunately this does flow over into assignments and written work.Im not sure if yours is a question though or a statement. I am sad however, that perhaps in a few years time we wont be able to understand the literature of the 1950's because it is too English!!!

Answer 8

Yes l must say that l have noticed alot of really bad spelling, not only that it's hard to understand some of these questions, it's like trying to decipher Chinese. I don't mean to underestimate but the Americans are horrendous spellers, how ca n you graduate to college when you can't even spell. But it's even a problem in Britain and alot of teachers blame things like text messaging, because everything is shortened.

Answer 9

Definitely disturbing. Most of it is caused by text messaging. I think this is going to be the downfall of the English language. It's like using speed dial all the time. People don't remember phone numbers anymore. Constant use of text messaging is going to cause kid's to forget how to spell and properly structure sentences.

Answer 10

I hear you loud and clear, man. What is most disturbing is that many of the total dunces we are talking about are university students or graduates!

The majority of American college students today cannot actually find France on a map, nor name the leaders of Canada or Mexico, the U.S.'s closest two neighbors.

My late father was from England. In the first part of the 20th. century he attended a lower middle class school in South London until he was forced to drop out after grade 9 and emigrate to Canada.

With his lower class English, grade 9 education, my father was fluent in French and knew well how to read both Greek and Latin. He had studied and was proficient in Algebra, Calculus and the use of Logarithms. (I doubt that today one could find a grade 9 student who could actually SPELL "logarithm.") He had read many of the great classics and could find any country and its capital on a map within seconds.

With his limited education he rose to be both a senior civil servant in Canada as well as a Brigadier General in the Canadian Army.

I myself graduated High School in the late 60s and started but did not finish university. I speak with some of my nieces and nephews and their friends today, even those with PhDs, and find the majority to be completely uneducated morons.

(They DO understand what "political correctness" is however, and the vital social importance of permiting men to marry other men, dogs or sheep. They also understand the terrible oppression to one's "self-esteem" of actually forcing children to be tested or graded in schools, as well the awful racist crime of admiring western civilization or democracy. They do understand all that, - they simply can't add, subtract, spell or actually THINK!)

Answer 11

I cannot agree with you more. You are abs correct. In fact i would go a step further in sharing the blame...we as parents collectively have our responsibilities in seeing that this does not continue. In fact names of countries individuals's names all start with a capital letter i have pointed out several time in my ...they somehow do not follow correct language. I believe they are casual about these things and not serious. Whenever i come across such a thing i have been considering all these aspects and feel the same way. Thanks.