Why can't people spell?

Question

It seems as though no one can differentiate between:

its and it's
you're and your
too and to
there, their and they're

And that's just the most egregious of errors. The amount of misspellings and other grammatical screw-ups I've come across is ludicrous.

Do people not care or are they just stupid?

I'm talking about in the "real" world, not on the internet. I see glaring errors in newspapers and magazines. Even in books. Things that one would expect to be, you know, EDITED.

Answer 1

Some are too used to Instant Messaging everything. Others are in too much of a hurry to bother to check. Still others feel that it is the message itself that is of any matter and not how it is presented. And then there are those who have no idea that anything is wrong with their grammar at all.

So, in conclusion, both are correct. They don't care and they are just stupid.

You'll notice half of the responders make grammatical errors, particularly of capitalization. This is even true of those who agree with your statements.

Answer 2

Some people believe that the internet is just a place where nothing can be traced back to them, and total anonymity grants them peace to speak their minds with no signs of effort put towards spelling and grammar. It's the last thing people worry about now-a-days.
I'm not saying I'm perfect because I do slip up (I'm only human) but some people clearly don't try. I don't typically talk to these people on MSN and the likes because I just can't take it, but a few posts here and there don't bother me all too much. If it's too difficult to comprehend then I'll just leave it - it's one answer the questioner is going to have to live without. Other people may do the same, and so really it's the culprit's own downfall.

That's my opinion.
MaybeLater_x

Answer 3

Many misspellings are due to the fact that some people are not aware of spelling patterns. For example, did you know that the letter "c" sounds like /s/ when it is followed by "e" and "i". There are many rules like that people were not explicitly taught in school.

Some people do not realize that "its" and "it's" are different. "Its" is the possessive form of "it" and "it's" means "it is". People tend to use "too" and "to" interchangeably because they do not know which means "also" and which is a preposition.

All in all, many problems stem from inadequate education. I'm sure there is are some people who just don't care to use proper grammar and spelling on the Internet because it's not a permanent form of communication. Now if these same people were working on their thesis in grad school...then that is a different story. A colleauge suggested that spelling and grammar is not necessary as long as you have word processing programs that check it all for you.

Answer 4

Both. They are either too lazy or don't care. It could also be stupidity. I think good English is fast becoming a lost art. I shudder to think of how business and industry will flounder during the next generation if people never learn to write legibly or use proper grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Answer 5

People are not stupid. It's just that they care about different things. Some don't care especially about grammar (e.g., using "different than" instead of "different from" or using "split infinitives"). Some folks have called my correctness "anal", and my spouse is amazed that I have once or twice outperformed the spellchecker or the daily crossword. Take it in stride. If the content arrives, the form in which it is passed may not be important...

Answer 6

It probably has a lot to do with not caring and getting their answers or questions out as quickly as possible. I have a difficult time believing that people don't even bother to use spell check when it is so readily available. I guess this is a sign of these times.

Answer 7

The internet has had a hugely negative impact on spelling and grammar. Teachers I know now get papers with u instead of 'you' and other horrid mistakes. In 2007, proper writing, speaking, and basics are being left behind.

Answer 8

It's the "new educational philosophy" that let's kids go on even if they are dumber than a wedge of cheese, and ignorant as a sack full of hammers.
That's why we need to battle in our public schools for standards and testing of standards. We will soon be a nation of nincompoops if this trend continues.

Answer 9

I think when it comes to an adult, they just don't care. As for a child or teenager, the concept of the words have not sunk in yet. Give it time for those younger ones. The older ones, I don't know what to say. Pray for them? LOL

Answer 10

Spelling has little to do with intelligence. Similar to nice handwriting, it depends on how much effort a person wants to put into it. Of course poor spelling leads people to think less of your intelligence or, at the very least, ability to communicate effectively.