Why don't people consider spelling important anymore?

Question

It's just laziness. Another example of the dumbing down of this country.

Answer 1

Laziness

Answer 2

Part of the problem is that this new generation was made to grow up to fast in a fast paced world where using numbers for words has become acceptable to the world and make the word short as possible they can move on to the next word, although we are to use politically correct language we can spell or write anyway we want. There is something wrong with this picture. I am not blaming teachers, however I do put some blame on the parents which are never home to correct there children because they are working and out doing their own thing. Children are given such a big responsibility at such an early age now and they pick up everything of the web & text messaging which has cut their language skills down to nothing. I do not like when I get an email and it looks like a foreign language to me. I total agree with you its seems that our country is headed for the crapper if you know what I mean. Thanks for bringing up this question, maybe more people will become aware that there is a problem before it is to late. Good luck with all your answers.

Answer 3

if people did not consider spelling important, the would not be using "Spell Check". When you use the term "People" it is too general. Should be "Some people. There is another factor here, People can read entire paragraphs when only the first and last letters of every word are printed.

This is a poor example, but best I can do on short notice:

the lidt tane i wnet to the Msarek to bay
semetheng I lamt my welat

It takes more thought to write like that, maybe that is why spelling is important. It isn't the reading it is the writing.

The last time I went to the market to buy something I lost my Wallet.

Answer 4

Spelling wasn't always important. It was only the turn of the 20th century that people began caring about how a word is spelled. Before then, the thinking was that all you needed to do was get your point across. Creative spellings and abbreviations were encouraged.

The man who created Webster's dictionary is widely credited as being responsible for the consistent spelling movement, which started here in the US.

You should also consider the literacy rate. The literacy rate in the US recently is the highest it has been in history (just like most other countries, the literacy rate has increased over time). It used to be that only very well educated people could read and write, so the percentage of literate adults that could spell well was very high, but the percentage of adults that could write at all was low.

Now, the percentage of literate adults who can spell well is lower, but the percentage of people who can write at all is much higher.

This is because even people who are not well educated can write, which is a great improvement on our past history.

Answer 5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate

Look for the US...go ahead; we are NOT anywhere near the top of THIS list. Trust me math and science are even worse. We are neither literate nor educated...using spell check would be a small step in the right direction.

Answer 6

Important only when you're trying to read a text of misspelled words. It is almost taken for granted, with the new technology many don't feel they have to strive so hard at spelling

Answer 7

Because this has become an instant world, people want it now, now, right away. A lot of people want shortcuts for EVERYTHING. The educators are letting this happen, they don't encourage speaking or writing English correctly.

Answer 8

The influx of technologies, for instance "texting" and Instant messenger, have caused this dilemma. Communication has never been faster, and grammar and spelling have never been more horrific. Sad, sad, sad. I hear people SPEAKING like they type ("LOL!! I'll brb, hon, k?") It's sad.

Answer 9

its because we have Microsoft word which does spell check. Who actually physically writes things on paper anymore?

Answer 10

Because they are getting lazier.