Do you think people are lazy or just can't spell?

Question

Wot do u tink?

Personally I think with text messaging a lot of kids are going to have poor spelling when they grow up. I find it a bit irritating when people answer questions on this site using shortened words.

Answer 1

It is terribly irritating as a 6th grade teacher and you get students who turn in papers using "text talk" as I like to call it. To me it is a sign of a change in generations. I took pride in being able to spell and having grammar skills. Now I have students that turn in daily journal responses that read something like this: "I had fun b/c u r a grt tchr. I have fun w/ things in class & I get to c my friends."

Answer 2

I do think the computer age with spell check as well as shortening things for IM cause students to be less aware of the need for correct spelling.

We were drilled and drilled as students in spelling. However, my experience is that spelling is an aptitude. Some people are just better at it than others...like math. I am lousy at math, but can spell quite well.

I do find it bothersome however when a spell check is so available and people just don't care to utilize it. I've worked in office and school environments where e-mails were sent from
managers with misspellings and wrong word usage...like to, too, two and their, there, and they're.

In those cases it makes the sender appear uneducated combines with lazy. But, it's a new world.

Answer 3

You're probably right. I'm one of those teenagers that text messages and e-mails and such, but I still spell things correctly and write complete sentences on the computer. I get a bit lazy with texting because it takes "2 long 2 rite wrds" on a cell phone. On a computer, there's really no reason to have to abbreviate because typing is pretty quick, but there are some of us that are still too lazy. I happen to be a precise sort of person, so I write in complete sentences, as you can tell. I just wanted you to know that not all teens are annoying and lazy on the internet! :-)

Answer 4

There is no such think as an inability to spell. People are simply too lazy and not bothered to try,.You have to have that desire to improve yourself from a young age, and well frankly the education systems in most countries do not place much emphasis on the quality of the education their students get, but simply keeping the numbers coming and make sure most manage to graduate. It is sickening to see in some cases your own lecturers or teachers cannot spell.
When it comes to the texting language i use it too, but not to the extent that no one can understand it in the hope that i save myself 11 cents for another text.

Answer 5

I blame the mobile phone industry. It could be due to the limited amount of space we used to have for text messages on mobile phones. People get used to using text messages and start using them in emails, on the internet, etc. This is affecting people's ability to spell and use the correct grammar. However, it is probably inevitable that our language will eventually change to accomodate words such c, u and l8ter more generally if people keep using them every day.

Personally, I never use shortened words.

Answer 6

Both. Many people can't spell but everybody is lazy, trying to find the quickest and easiest way to get it done. The short spelling craze started at the beginning of the 20th century to speed up the typists. It went further in the USA so that now you will "find your neighbour sitting in his easy chair watching the television" or as they would rite it "find your neighbor in his EZ chair watching the TV"

Answer 7

Though it could be they can't spell, I think it's more so because they are lazy. It's quick and personally I don't care about it as long as the message gets across. With a more professional setting, I'm sure it would be different....

Answer 8

They can't spell *because* they're lazy. Too lazy to learn.

There's nothing wrong with "txt spk" - in its place, which is when you're texting (I do it myself). There is a reason, after all - you're a bit restricted on the length of the message, but there's no excuse doing it anywhere else.

Answer 9

I try to use the spell checker as much as I can but I am a bad speller. Just like with peoples' names, my memory is weak in this area. I've tried using different methods like associating objects and other things with words and names in the past but it just does not help me that much.

Answer 10

honestly the answer has to be a bit of both lol as most people do have the ability to spell but just can't be bothered. okies m8