Why do so many people think spelling errors are flaws in an argument?

Question

Hah... you speeled that worng... I'm right!

Answer 1

That is simply a variation of "ad hominem", in which you attack your debate opponent personally, not their argument.

Answer 2

The written word is the representative of the ideas, thoughts and views expressed in a way that has the power to change the world around you and I in a positive or negative way. When the thought is expressed and done so improperly, the full concept never gets expressed - easily misconstrued or even twisted and distorted.

I believe that if you truly believe what you say and are not simply parroting a view expressed by someone else and have a measured response, it will be evident by the care you take to share what you know, how you came to know it, other factors that may influence a persons viewpoint, and tie it all together without boring the majority of those who bother to read what you bothered to type.

I also noticed that Y!A spell check is broken.

Answer 3

Spelling errors reflect a couple of things. Lack of education and that the person does not read very much. When something is replete with misspelled words, it does not necessarily mean that the argument is flawed. However, it is hard to take a person as seriously if they can't spell.

Answer 4

There was a time when poorly educated or self-educated people usually didn't spell very well or speak properly because they didn't have learned instructors to drill them in spelling or pronunciation.

So much so that when I was a product manager, we'd have 20 or 30 people review each brochure before it was printed to make absolutely sure that there were no spelling, grammar, usage or 'word sense' errors--even in the fine print. It totally kills any credibility whatsoever that a reasoned, thinking, learned person has communicated.

However, today, many well-educated people can't spell, don't worry about usage, and couldn't care less about word sense. I just try to understand what is being put across, and ask questions if I'm not sure. Spelling, unfortunately, is optional.

Answer 5

I think people relate spelling to overall intelligence and effort. If you take the time to use correct spelling and grammar, then it can imply that you are intelligent, well-educated, and you take the extra effort to successfully communicate what you are trying to say. If your spelling or grammar is horrible, then some people may think that you are uneducated, unintelligent, and didn't put any effort into your communication, so why would your argument be credible at all, and be backed up by intelligence and research, and be worth listening to?
I know it may seem silly, but it's very true.

Answer 6

If you plan to present a valid argument, take the time to spell things correctly. If you can't even manage to get your point across without obvious errors, why should your argument be taken seriously? Especially when there is a Check Spelling feature available ...

The occasional typos are one thing, blatant misspellings are another.

Answer 7

I don't think spelling mistakes indicate a flawed argument, but in my opinion, if you're compelled to present a strong argument, you should take the time to do it well. And it's generally a stupid mistakes that people shouldn't make. I learned the difference between you're and your, and there, their and they're a long time ago. It's more annoying than anything.

Answer 8

While one does not necessarily mean the other, not taking the time to use spell check is considered akin to not formulating an argument carefully. This connotes a likeness of carelessness in both presentation and content.

Answer 9

I'll ignore a few minor spelling errors, but if the answer is filled with misspellings and piss poor grammar then I'm going to assume that the person has a weak understanding of their own language or english is a 2nd or 3rd language to them. If it's their native language and they fail to understand the basics of it, then how can I trust that they will offer me quality answers on much more complicated issues?

Answer 10

Intelligent argument requires intelligent speech. Being that this forum is all about the typed word and not the spoken word, grammatical and typing errors reflect an unintelligent person. Its not hard to run spell check and go back and check what you have written.

Answer 11

I know what you mean...

Misspellings and improper grammar are prevalent in forums, such as this one, where many feel it is necessary to submit their posts as expeditiously as possible,...
and it's absurd for anyone to point out these errors unless, of course, these errors render the post as unclear or incomprehensible.

That said, it is difficult for me to fathom why there are those on Y!A, and elsewhere, who simply refuse to employ the provided 'Check Spelling' features, as they only take a few seconds to use, and can make a marked difference in not only in how well a POST is received,...

...but also in how well the POSTER is perceived.

"...'Spellchecker': It's not just for editors anymore..."...;-)