Is spelling important?

Question

Isn`t the view more important than the way the opinion is typed. Many hide behind foolish thought by using complex spelling but being smart is about making things easy and i find most spelling is illogical and is memory rather than thought based. I think its time for text speak to become the correct way of spelling altho i still think lol is annoying lol

Answer 1

Yes, spelling, punctuation and syntax are all important...hoe ken u bee under stood if u cant right two gud? not good rightin make it herd to now wut u sayin...and thus any intelligent thought is lost to the reader because the person conveying that thought can't do so in an efficient, and readily recognizable manner. So, it is NOT about the spelling and the syntax, it IS about the thought, but proper spelling and syntax are the best vehicle for succinctly getting your point across.

Answer 2

Um... this is Women's Studies... are you sure you posted in the right division?

Anyways, I'll answer the question: Spelling is important because it maintains a sort of consistency in writing and conveying thoughts. It's far more important than grammar but probably less important than being able to speak a language. "Complex" spelling, as you put it, seems to make some people think you are more intelligent for some reason. Most people just type slowly so they use shorthand for words, which is fine as long as it is intelligible. The line is crossed when you can't read somebody's writing, basically. Your spelling is fine, by the way; I can understand your point perfectly, and, as you noted, that's all that really matters.

Answer 3

you're an idiot.

Text writing was developed by lazy a-holes sending text messages on a cell phone that doesn't have a proper keyboard - in that context it's somewhat more understandable but butchering the language because you're too lazy or stupid to learn it properly is simply pathetic and is indicitive of the mentallity that is lowering the common denominator - bringing society down further and further.

Being smart is not about making things easier - it's about knowing the the right way to do things and understanding why they are the way they are or the way they should be. Our language has been developed over a very long time and by changing it all now because everyone's too lazy will only result in the further loss of how things came to be. Someone with half a brain can look at a number of words and not necessarily knowing the word might be able to guess its meaning by breaking it down to its root and if they know the origiin of the root in latin or germanic can figure it out - if you eliminate any evidence of its original root...I hope you get the idea.

Answer 4

Spelling is very important. Sadly, not many people out there know how to spell very well. I don't get how you think that "many hide behind foolish thought by using complex spelling" !!! It takes a reasonably educated individual to know how to spell. It's that simple. If you know how to spell, you're going to spell correctly. Why would you want to spell incorrectly if you know the correct spelling???? I think being smart is knowing how to make things easy but not at the expense of looking stupid. And that is not "all" that being smart is about. If you knew enough about the english language, or whatever language you are refering to, then it wouldn't be so difficult to spell correctly, or to at least find the correct spelling of a word.

Answer 5

Of course spelling is important, just as proper grammar and manners are important. The current movement in our society that discounts proper spelling, saying it is unimportant, totally misses the mark and I cannot imagine it would gain much ground. It is promoted by people who are too lazy, just don't care, or don't want to see the big picture. This maddening idea that spelling is unimportant demeans the importance of language and effective communication. Spelling is not illogical, as you say, if you understand etymology. Look at the roots of words and you start to understand so much about the world around you. Words and language do evolve, but correct spelling is extremely important in order to effectively convey ideas and concepts. I don't even know what you mean by memory-based - you have to remember your address in order to get home, don't you? Why would the fact that you have to remember how to spell a word be a negative thing? ...unless you're simply unmotivated. Choose to be a simpleton, if you wish, but communicating solely by "text speak" abbreviations will mark you as an idiot. You will go nowhere holding onto this belief. Learn to spell and you will go far.

Answer 6

A wise man once said that you should never use a large word when a small word will do. I'm not sure what you mean by "complex spelling". Do you mean that people use large words to try and sound intelligent? I agree. There is no reason to complicate a sentence with alot of "techno-speak", especially if they really don't know what they are talking about. However, I don't think that over-simplifying the spelling makes it easier to understand the view. It is much more intelligent to use simple sentences with correct spelling and grammar. This allows the greatest number of people to understand the message.

Answer 7

YES

In my mind, poor spelling and grammar is the sign of ignorance and sloppiness. It is like being well groomed; you want to make an good first impression.

Without good punctuation, sentences can mean entirely different things than the author intended. Punctuation is necessary to divide the composition so that the words can be read aloud with a flow and keep the thoughts organized in proper groupings.

The English language is an absolute horror for people to learn. For every rule, for every sound, there are many exceptions or variations.

Since I am a "word" person, I find textspeak almost an insult. Of course that is because it reminds me of algebra by combining letters and numbers! I even do my posts for here in word so I can make sure everything is spit polish perfect.

Hey Baba... chivalry is still alive and ... well, trying to stay alive... in 2007! Gotta be a gal to be the recipient though.

Answer 8

Text speech is written that way as a kind of shorthand, to make the message cheaper to send. Its about economy of language.
Language is rich and precise in its meaning. You can't write a manual in text speech. Try following a Haynes manual written in text, its impossible.
Views and feelings are important. We can only use real language to convey meaning, not text speech.

We don't need to and shouldn't dumb anything down. Intelligent people know that some people are dyslexic, or have a different education and make allowances.
Laughing at peoples spelling is not a sign of intelligence, its arrogant. So is hiding behind complex language.
Its not ideas or intelligence you resent, its arrogance.

Answer 9

Of course spelling is important! So is punctuation. To be constantly screwing up gives a very poor impression; it makes the author appear slovenly, lazy and downright stupid. Sorry, but this is absolutely true: it undermines credibility.

I see real problems when people toss subjective terms around and fail to define them. Many of these are 'loaded words' which carry strong political connotations: 'feminist'/'feminism' and 'equality' are two such 'hot-button' concepts. I came accross another strange one tonight: 'chivalry'. What on earth does 'chivalry' mean? How does 'chivalry' manifest itself in 2007? The problem with such outmoded, 'fuzzy' words as 'chivalry' is that people again can't reach consensus ...vague recollections of stories about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table came to mind - and that was it. English folk legends from grade-school english classes? Cliches? The term is so hopelessly vague as to be meaningless.

Answer 10

To me spelling is very important. I really don't use complex words as much unless I am writitng a letter or a resume. I hate using the shorthand. If I come across a shorthand question I will not attempt to read it, and got to another.