Is Spell Check making everyone stupid?

Question

A lot of people today just cant spell. Everyone just types and doesn't worry about it because they know they have Spell Check to save the day. Honestly, i think its making people stupid because now they cant spell worth anything. What do you think?

Answer 1

I really agree with you! I actually got in this discussion the other day in my AP lit class. We were talking about how people have no idea to spell words because instead of looking them up and learning them, they just use spell check. Sometimes it's funny though because spell check isn't always right!

Answer 2

I disagree with you. Spell Check may make people a little lazy or careless, but it doesn't make them "stupid". Spelling is no worse than it has ever been. People still make mostly the same mistakes that people always made. Just because people are careless about spelling doesn't mean that they can't spell. English spelling is very difficult for many people because it often is not phonetic and doesn't make sense.

You may find this poem entertaining.

When the English tongue we speak
Why is break not rhymed with freak?
Will you tell me why it’s true
We say sew, but likewise few?
And the maker of a verse,
Cannot rhyme his horse with worse?
Beard is not the same as heard,
Cord is different from word,
Cow is cow, but low is low,
Shoe is never rhymed with foe.
Think of hose and dose and lose,
And think of goose and yet of choose,
Think of comb and tomb and bomb,
Doll and roll and home and some.
And since pay is rhymed with say,
Why not paid with said I pray?
Think of blood and food and good;
Mould is not pronounced like could.
Wherefore done, but gone and lone -
Is there any reason known?
To sum up all, it seems to me
Sounds and letters don’t agree.

Best of luck.

Answer 3

It keeps me from looking stupid. Perhaps I am stupid because I'm a terrible speller. I actually sound out words--with my mouth--when I take notes in grad school. I always got out in the first round in elementary spelling bees. But I'm a smarty. I read more than anyone I know and am a freelance writer. I just can't spell to save my life.

But if it's an excuse to avoid, say, participating in spelling bees and learning to spell generally, I think spellcheck is terrible. After all, spellcheck can't solve everything. If you're really, really far off, spellcheck is no good. You'll have to go with me on this one.

Answer 4

I don't think Spell Check is the problem.

I think people don't read as much as they used to. Relying on TV and other media to be informed.

Additionally, the telephone decades ago took away the need for written correspondence, thus, taking away the need to articulate well on paper.

For the current generation, spell check/texting/emoticons, etc., have also interfered with doing well with spelling.

Good spelling habits comes from reading and writing and developing good habits...we've gotten away from those habits decades ago.

Answer 5

you need to come out of the English cave you live in and take a good look at the world. There aren't just different races, countries and people who do not have English as their native language but also, not everyone is well educated to speak & write grammatically perfect language! i'm from India and you have no idea how annoying it is when some native speaker of English tries to correct my grammar! English is NOT my native language! How many people can write a foreign language the way I can write English?! It's ignorance mate. What's important is communication.... language is just a means....

Answer 6

I agree completely. I rarely even use spell check because I think I am a good speller - it was one of my best subjects in school.

Also, anytime I ever asked my Mom as child how to spell something she would tell me to look it up in the dictionary. And I still have that dictionary as a reminder.

Calculators are doing the same thing with simple math (add, subtract, divide, multiply).

Answer 7

It's not making them stupid but it shows who is already not too smart. Spell check requires that you can tell when it is wrong. I'm more disturbed by the folks on this site who don't use it, or don't notice when Yahoo makes a mistake.

Answer 8

i have always been able to spell very well. but everyone else in my family can't. i was going to the mall the other day and there was a small store that was near it. it was changing locations and the sign they had up said "moveing sale" it made me laugh for about five minutes straight. my sister (who is only 2 years younger than me) thinks "favorites" is spelled: "favorits" i really really agree with you.

Answer 9

Honestly, I think it's the social acceptance of lazy typing that's making people stupid. It's suddenly "cool" to type like you have the IQ of a goldfish. Frankly, I'm ashamed of my generation.

Answer 10

Its a reel shame that people re lie on the spell cheque because its knot two smart.

No misspellings found


Sea! Eye tolled ewe sew!