Discussion Groups / English Usage / May 2009

Forwarded messages:

Kin Amuricuns spell? This survey sez NAW.

Many Americans vexed by spelling

By Jennifer Harper
The Washington Times
Tuesday, February 10, 2009

The nation is not letter perfect. Americans may be embarassed, even.
Make that "embarrassed" -- it's among the common words that vex the
spell-challenged in an age of spell check.

According to a study released Monday by the London-based Spelling
Society, 62 percent of the nation can't spell the dreaded e-word
correctly, along with liaison, botched by 61 percent, and millennium,
misspelled by 52 percent.

And while women ultimately prevail as better spellers, members of
both sexes struggle with the configurations of such words as
accommodation, separate, definitely and accidentally.

Men were particularly mystified by friend; 78 percent misspelled the
word on occasion, the survey found. For the ladies, more than half
could not get liaison right.

Almost two-thirds of us say that spelling among adults is on the
decline; a quarter acknowledged that they were simply bad spellers.
About a third said they got nervous filling out official forms or
formal documents without a computer-based spell checker or at least a
dictionary.

One academic consultant for the project blames the nature of the
English language.

"We have different spellings for the same sound, especially for
vowels -- silent letters, missing letters and a system which reflects
how English was spoken in the 13th to 15th centuries, not how it is
spoken today," said Edward Baranowski, a linguist with California
State University at Sacramento.

"So many sound changes have occurred in the language, which are not
reflected in modern spelling, that we are left with a 'fossilized'
system. Perhaps if English had had an effective language academy,
such as those in France or Spain, this would have been mitigated over
time," he added.

The Spelling Society -- founded in 1908 in Britain to raise awareness
of problems caused by irregularities in English spelling -- is
calling for a regular spelling system for the U.S. and Britain.

"Let's allow people greater freedom to spell logically," said John
Wells, a linguist with the University College London. "It's time to
remove the fetish that says that correct spelling is a principal mark
of being educated. Let's spell logically just as you do in Spanish,
Italian or Swedish."

Is a little dumbing down in order, then?

The survey found that 40 percent of the respondents would support
updating words that "typically" caused problems while 16 percent
opposed the idea. A blase 31 percent said it didn't matter.

Spelling, however, appears to be a family affair: 71 percent said it
was a parent's responsibility to help children with lousy spelling,
54 percent said the task rested with teachers and 10 percent said
that government should take up the matter.

The survey of 1,000 adults was conducted for the project by Ipsos
MORI, a British-based organization, from Jan. 15 to 20.

Meanwhile, commonly misspelled words have drawn the ire of dictionary
publishers.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, for example, words such
as address, beautiful, immediate and skillful are worries for would-
be perfectionists. In the Collins Dictionary, supersede is the worst
word of all, followed by conscience, indict and foreign. The
"Dumbtionary," -- an online source of the most misspelled words --
has amassed more than 10,000 of the culprits.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/10/some-words-spell-frustration-for
-americans/

1 Posted on February 10, 2009 in part by lakeprincess

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-To: lakeprincess

Double plus ungood.

2 Posted on February 10, 2009 by IYAS9YAS
(Obama - what you get when you mix Affirmative Action with the Peter
  Principle.)

This is a reply to 1

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-To: lakeprincess

Ever seen peoples text messages?

That should tell you all you need to know.

3 Posted on February 10, 2009 by blastdad51
(Typical middle-aged white patriot.)

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-To: lakeprincess

View image here:

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/funny-pictures-cat-proofre
ads-your-essays.jpg

4 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Dahoser
(America's great untapped alternative energy source: The Founding
  Fathers spinning in their graves.)

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-To: lakeprincess

Like uhh who cares dude like uhh we cant no stuff like englsh math an
scinance when uhh we gots like mor importint stuf to lern in govmet
skool.

5 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Proud2BeRight

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-To: lakeprincess

I've always found spelling errors were directly related to speed of
typing. The faster I type, the more likely the errors. Unfortunately,
once my train of thought gets going, I have to type faster lest that
thought be derailed.

6 Posted on February 10, 2009 by theDentist
(Qwerty ergo typo: I type, therefore I misspelll)

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-To: lakeprincess

OMG!
ROTFLMAO
IBTZ?
-jk!

; )

7 Posted on February 10, 2009 by ozark hilljilly
(I don't even think I think!)

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-To: lakeprincess

PS: note my tagline

8 Posted on February 10, 2009 by theDentist
(Qwerty ergo typo: I type, therefore I misspelll)

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-To: blastdad51

Fixed and agreed.

9 Posted on February 10, 2009 by OneWingedShark
(Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk
  humbly with my God.)

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-To: lakeprincess

View image here:

http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/5/19/egadwezbeen12855727
3022067533.jpg

10 Posted on February 10, 2009 by RushIsMyTeddyBear
(Obama dozed.....people froze.)

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-To: lakeprincess

Meanwhile, people who can spell, write, and speak standard English,
go unemployed. You would think it might be a minimum standard.

11 Posted on February 10, 2009 by anniegetyourgun

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-To: lakeprincess

And spell checker isn't going to ALWAYS do you any good.

Eye have a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea
Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight for it to say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh
As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lee ever wrong
Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased to no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer told me sew

Go ahead, run it through your spell checker. LOL

12 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Just another Joe
(Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental
  health)

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-To: lakeprincess

hukt on fonix rilly werkt fur mee!

13 Posted on February 10, 2009 by absolootezer0
 (thank God for Chicago: makes Detroit look wholesome by
  comparison.)

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-To: blastdad51

My son is a prof at Mizzou and he says that "text message" spelling
and usage in showing up at an alarming rate, even in formal papers.
The kids don't even seem to realize it's wrong. He most assuredly
penalizes them severely.

14 Posted on February 10, 2009 by TheRightGuy
(I want MY BAILOUT ... a billion or two should do!)

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-To: lakeprincess

I'm a terrible speller. I have always attributed it to the illogical
nature of the spelling of English words and the fact that they were
teaching the "look-say" method of reading when I was in the early
grades. It is not for lack of reading - I love to read, or an
inability to memorize. My husband, a wiz at spelling, says "Just look
at the word in your mind and spell it out!" The problem for me is
what I see in my mind is always fuzzy. I always use spell check and
frequently check the dictionary to double check for spelling errors.

15 Posted on February 10, 2009 by stayathomemom
(Cat herder and empty nester)

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-To: lakeprincess

My sphel chucker iz bustid!

16 Posted on February 10, 2009 lexington minuteman 1775

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-To: lakeprincess

I'm stuned.

17 Posted on February 10, 2009 by paulycy
("I WON! OBEY ME!!!")

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-To: anniegetyourgun

Don't get me started.

I have to werk, I mean work at it. Thank God for spell checkers and
my online dictionary. I refer to them all the time. By the way, what
is the proper spelling of "online" and "internet"? Should they be
capitalized? Hyphenated? Is there any consensus on this?

I've got lots of supposedly well educated friends who can't type or
write a simple, logical, declarative sentence. I'm shocked by their
inability to do so.

18 Posted on February 10, 2009 by garyhope
(Barack Hussein Obambi, Marxist traitor and the end of America and
  Western civilization)

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-To: lakeprincess

'Nuf said. They don't spell anything ending in "or" correctly. And
that can't pronounce aluminum.

19 Posted on February 10, 2009 by al_c
(Avoid the consequences of erudite vernacular utilized irrespective
  of necessity)

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-To: Just another Joe

I did. Marques and chequer were said to be unknown to Word... Of
course, so is Obama.

20 Posted on February 10, 2009 by IYAS9YAS
(Obama - what you get when you mix Affirmative Action with the Peter
  Principle.)

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-To: al_c

that = they

how embarrassing

21 Posted on February 10, 2009 by al_c
(Avoid the consequences of erudite vernacular utilized irrespective
  of necessity)

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-To: theDentist

I don't think that is entirely true. There have been countless
mistakes over and over regarding 'its (third person sing. poss.)' and
'it's (contraction of it is).' Confusion between 'their (third person
pl. poss.)' and 'they're (contraction of they are)' and 'your (second
person poss.)' and 'you're (contraction of you are)' are also fairly
regular here and in e-mails I have received (another frequently
misspelled word) from friends. Many of the posts and e-mails
exhibited well-thought ideas but consistent misspelling. It just
seems people are too lazy to look the proper spelling up in a
dictionary.

Many younger folks (under 50) I have met had little emphasis on
spelling in school ( poor self-esteem in some private as well as
public schools) so the frequency of poor grammar and spelling doesn't
surprise me. Add to that a lack of reading and it's a surprise that
many of them can spell at all.

22 Posted on February 10, 2009 12Gauge687
(Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice)

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-To: lakeprincess

This is so hugh I think I'm going to loose it. Seriesly.

23 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Jaxter
(Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum.)

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-To: lakeprincess

Well, judging by what I've seen at FR over the past ten years, most
Freepers can't spell either.

Typical Freeper spelling and grammar: "He is such a looser. He should
of read the bill so he would know what it's provisions are. He could
care less about the Constitution."

24 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Maceman
(If you're not getting a tax cut, you're getting a pay cut.)

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-To: IYAS9YAS

Ahh, your version of word has an incomplete dictionary.

Marques, pronounced "marks" and chequer, pronounced "checker", are
both in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language

25 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Just another Joe
(Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental
  health)

This is a reply to 20

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-To: garyhope

I spell them 'on-line' and 'Internet' but as you can tell from my
previous post, I am an old fogey. The second word is capitalized
because it was considered a formal location. As far as the former,
any word added to the front of 'line' is a separate prefix (ie. in-
line engine or main-line).

I think a lot of confusion has been created by the simplification of
communication in the form of all lower case letters, as well as
elimination of some punctuation. I remember some of the first e-mails
I received in the early Nineties were almost unreadable without upper
case letters and punctuation.

26 Posted on February 10, 2009 by 12Gauge687
(Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice)

This is a reply to 18

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-To: Maceman

'He could care less...' is rather amusing since it's supposed be 'he
could not care less.' When the first statement is verbalized in a
sarcastic tone, it's supposed to actually mean the latter statement.

When I hear folks make or write the first statement, it will elicit
from me, 'So, he still cares a little bit?'

'He could not care less' actually means the subject has reached the
bottom of concern. Apparently this meaning escapes many folks.

27 Posted on February 10, 2009 by 12Gauge687
(Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice)

This is a reply to 24

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-To: lakeprincess

I've noticed that since I've started using Google, with its spelling
suggestions, my own spelling has gone downhill. I can just imagine
what it's doing to kids who have grown up with it.........

28 Posted on February 10, 2009 by JoeDetweiler

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-To: garyhope

Yes and no. My older stylebooks suggest "on-line" and "Internet."
I've since abandoned the hyphen in on-line but I still capitalize
Internet.

Language, in my opinion doesn't really evolve -- it devolves. The
changes in the language often occur through repeated misuse, not
proper use.

I compare its collapse to American popular music, but that's for
another thread.

29 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Flycatcher
(Strong copy for a strong America)

This is a reply to 18

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-To: lakeprincess

Graffiti writers, blog posters, and such, usually from the left,
often use the word "facist" to refer to Reagan, the Bushes, Limbaugh,
and other prominent conservatives and republicans. On occasion,
"facist" even shows up on this site. I figure that a "facist" must be
someone overly concerned with maintaining status and prestige and not
losing face.

30 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Fiji Hill

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-To: Flycatcher

Thanks.

The "i" or "e" for "y" people drive me crazy.

Also the "there" for "their", etc., and similar mistakes.

31 Posted on February 10, 2009 by garyhope
(Barack Hussein Obambi, Marxist traitor and the end of America and
  Western civilization)

This is a reply to 29

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-To: garyhope

*Your* welcome.

snort...!

32 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Flycatcher
(Strong copy for a strong America)

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-To: lakeprincess

Years ago I had a young engineer working for me who could neither
spell nor punctuate nor write a coherent sentence. He apparently
believed that one sentence would easily span five pages provided the
first words was capitalized and there was a period at the end
provided he inserted enough commas and semicolons into the super-
pseudo-sentence.

This young engineer not only refused to learn, he took advantage of a
feature in Microsoft Word 1.0 (which still exists in the later
versions of Word). Word would flag misspelled words by underlining
them in red. But Word would allow the user to add specialized word
and acronyms of the trade to the dictionary. This individual would
add all of his misspelled words to the dictionary on his machine!

After a year of attempting to convince this individual that he was
not communicating well with other engineers and customers and
providing remedial training, I finally made good on my promise to
him: Either begin using standard English as defined in the
organization's style manual by showing defined improvements or leave
the organization. He was stunned when I fired him for his
unwillingness to improve.

Naturally, he sued.

The trail was quick and efficient. Our attorney introduced four
binders of items the individual had written with my handwritten
markups along with painstakingly written letters to the individual
explaining what he needed to do and why.

The judge's comment was: I have read, or think I have read, the items
in the first binder. I do not understand a single alleged sentence
written by the plaintiff. I do not understand a single alleged
sentence because of the content of those alleged sentences; rather I
do not understand them because of their construction. They are not
sentences. They fail to communicate. I find that the plaintiff was
terminated for proper cause. I further dismiss his suit. I further
order the plaintiff to pay the defendant's lawyer's fees as I find
his case to be frivolous and just short of contempt of this court."

The judge struck the gavel and adjourned the court.

The young engineer appealed and lost.

I still see college graduates who cannot write above the fifth grade
level. I no longer spend as much time trying to rehabilitate them as
I did trying to rehabilitate that first individual. I simply tell
them that they need to improve their ability to communicate. I offer
to send them to an English course. If they refuse the offer, I
terminate them. If the accept the offer, they have bought enough time
to improve, but if they do not improve (and about half do not), they
are terminated.

I realize some people would consider me "mean-spirited" which is
apparently teacher-speak (or is that "educator"-speak?) for "You are
evil because you expect college graduates to be educated!"

33 Posted on February 10, 2009 by MIchaelTArchangel

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-To: 12Gauge687

... and we haven't even touched on "Ebonics" yet.

34 Posted on February 10, 2009 by theDentist
(Qwerty ergo typo: I type, therefore I misspelll)

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-To: MIchaelTArchangel

Funny story. But you're not mean-spirited at all.

You're just paddling against the current, sadly.

35 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Flycatcher
(Strong copy for a strong America)

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-To: lakeprincess

Every feature writer has a toolkit just filled with personal
prophylactic periodic pieces such as this; emulating the life cycle
of the common cicada, every now and then they spring forth, or, more
likely are dragged -- kicking and screaming from the dark and musty
kit to cure a bad case of deadline-writer's block.

Take two aspirin, go back to bed and wait until the next outbreak of
this endemic ailment.

36 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Old Professer
(The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, then writes
  again.)

This is a reply to 1

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-To: garyhope

Same here. Who has the "spelling police" ping list?

37 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Arrowhead1952
((D) = Taking the Culture of Corruption to lower standards.)

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-To: al_c

Yeah, and then they go acting like they invented the language or
sumpin'... :-(

38 Posted on February 10, 2009 Billthedrill

This is a reply to 19

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-To: Maceman

"should of" ... ugh. And don't forget about "definately" and "then"
in place of "than."

39 Posted on February 10, 2009 by al_c
(Avoid the consequences of erudite vernacular utilized irrespective
  of necessity)

This is a reply to 24

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-To: MIchaelTArchangel

You forgot to use your grammar-checker. sorry ... couldn't resist

40 Posted on February 10, 2009 by al_c
(Avoid the consequences of erudite vernacular utilized irrespective
  of necessity)

This is a reply to 33

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-To: lakeprincess

I won the fourth grade spelling bee. Maybe I should put that on my
resume as I look for a second job that is not real estate related.
;o)

41 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Liberty Valance
(Keep a Simple Manner for a Happy Life ;o)

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-To: lakeprincess

        A Plan for the Improvement of English Spelling

                         by Mark Twain

       For example, in Year 1 that useless letter "c" would be
dropped to be replased either by "k" or "s", and likewise "x" would
no longer be part of the alphabet.  The only kase in which "c" would
be retained would be the "ch" formation, which will be dealt with
later.  Year 2 might reform "w" spelling, so that "which" and "one"
would take the same konsonant, wile Year 3 might well abolish "y"
replasing it with "i" and Iear 4 might fiks the "g/j" anomali wonse
and for all.

       Jenerally, then, the improvement would kontinue iear bai iear
with Iear 5 doing awai with useless double konsonants, and Iears 6-12
or so modifaiing vowlz and the rimeining voist and unvoist
konsonants.

Bai Iear 15 or sou, it wud fainali bi posibl tu meik ius ov thi
ridandant letez "c", "y" and "x" -- bai now jast a memori in the
maindz ov ould doderez -- tu riplais "ch", "sh", and "th"
rispektivli.

       Fainali, xen, aafte sam 20 iers ov orxogrefkl riform, wi wud
hev a lojikl, kohirnt speling in ius xrewawt xe Ingliy-spiking werld.

42 Posted on February 10, 2009 by the_devils_advocate_666

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-To: Just another Joe

The only word my MS Word caught was "chequer". :-)

43 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Oatka
("A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves."
  A–Bertrand de Jouvenel)

This is a reply to 12

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-To: Oatka

See Post #25

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2182307/posts?page=25#25

44 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Just another Joe
(Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental
  health)

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-To: al_c

*My* main peeves;

Loose for lose

Insure vs ensure

There/their/they're

and all those "cutesey" advertising gimmicks: "lite" for example.
AARGH!

45 Posted on February 10, 2009 by Don W
(People who think are a threat to socialism)

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-To: Flycatcher

"snort" is right. LOL.

Your for "you're is another one.

Oi vey!

46 Posted on February 10, 2009 by garyhope
(Barack Hussein Obambi, Marxist traitor and the end of America and
  Western civilization)

This is a reply to 32

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-To: Flycatcher

Remember when you are having a salmon day, you swim against the
current, jump over huge obstacles, only to get screwed and die.

But swimming against the current is often the only worthwhile thing
to do. I just wish we had a few members of Congress who would try
that once in a while rather than doing what the pollsters are telling
them the people want. Leadership is not giving the people what they
want; it is giving them what they need.

47 posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 by MIchaelTArchangel

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-To: Billthedrill

The English cannot pronounce aluminum the American way.

48 posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 by MIchaelTArchangel

This is a reply to 38

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End of forwarded messages from:
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2182307/posts

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Om Shanti

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view of the good positions of the planets, achieves
greatness that is eulogised in the scriptures."
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