Ability to Spell

[infamous]

My own personal experience suggests that as we grow older, spelling, along with a few other physical attributes seems to diminish because of the ageing process. What is strange to me, is that it seems to be the small words, when one would assume that the longer and more complicated ones would be causing all the problems...................go figure.

[Mercury]

The ability to spell... in English?

I was under the impression that the English language was a difficult language to learn. It has twenty-two vowel sounds, six diphthongs, and too many consonants. Besides, more than fifty percent of words in English are either from French or Latin. And it is considered a Germanic language because simple words (such as the pronouns, basic verbs, numbers, colours, etc) are still of Germanic roots. And there is not one grammar rule that does not have an exception! I struggled much in learning English on my first two years at primary school for it’s not my first language – I grew up in a Cantonese-speaking family. But I have my mother to thanks because she’s the one who had been insistent on forcing me to speak and write English.

Back on topic: the ability to spell correctly? Repetition is the key, I guess, in this. And I agree with IrishEyes that it is more of motivation in learning stuffs.

[Chacmool]

I correct other people's spelling and grammar for a living, so hopefully I'm quite good at spelling! I've been reading a lot since a very young age, and I'm convinced that this has contributed tremendously to my ability. Also, I read anything and everything - from the instructions on shampoo bottles to poetry anthologies, and from dictionaries to comic books. I think the key is variety, and thinking critically about the language all the time.

Also, I will look up new words and study their roots and meaning. And I never solely rely on the computer's spell checker, because it is much more deceptive than helpful. A good dictionary is your best friend, and I use several dictionaries every day. If I'm not absolutely certain about the spelling of a word - even though I can usually rely on my intuition - I will look it up. That extra effort will make the word come easier next time.

Now I just hope this post doesn't contain any silly errors!

[BluesMan]

One common thread in many of our posts is reading may equal ability to spell.
I am a voracious reader, 3-5 books on eclectic subjects each week, plus magazines, forums, and reports/work. I have read like this since I was a child and was well ahead of the curve with volume and content.
I remember in elementary school and up to Junior High that I won spelling Bees as well by spending a lot of time memorizing the spelling lists.

The answer to the question is probably different for each one of us. However for me the answer may be Practice and Motivation.

I am going to do some research on Dyslexia and it’s variations over the next few days. As I mentioned in my first post I often write inside out. I’ve noticed this has continued since that post; however I’ve also noticed I do not Type that way?

[Chacmool]

Originally Posted by BluesMan

I am going to do some research on Dyslexia and it’s variations over the next few days. As I mentioned in my first post I often write inside out. I’ve noticed this has continued since that post; however I’ve also noticed I do not Type that way?

Yes, it certainly is a very interesting topic. If you don't mind me asking, with what kind of words do you experience particular problems? For instance, does it depend on the length of the word, the letters it contains, or the type of word it is (noun, verb, etc.)? I find this "writing inside out" very interesting; I've never heard of it before (which just illustrates my ignorance and lack of knowledge about the subject!).

I saw a programme a long time ago about children with reading and learning difficulties. I can't remember all the details, but one of the children was severely dyslexic. He couldn't write or study at all, and everyone regarded him as being very stupid. Luckily, some educator or researcher realised that he could spell perfectly when typing on a computer, and that he was, in fact, quite intelligent.

[Turtle]

___My assessment. I only learned to spell assessment a month ago, and then only because I used (misspelled?) it here at Hypography. Unsure if I spelled it right, I looked it up & for the time being I know how to spell it correctly.
___My spelling is atrocious in my estimation, but it appears in the relam of posting the preeiminate concept is meaning & not spelling. I think posting continues to improve my spelling.
___Reading does not appear sufficient to improve spelling, rather writing is necessary to improving spelling.
___On a side note, while Hypography has improved my spelling, it generally has not increased my vocabulary. I find my dictionary the surrest source for both increasing my vocabulary & confirming spelling.

[infamous]

Originally Posted by Turtle

___Reading does not appear sufficient to improve spelling, rather writing is necessary to improving spelling.
___On a side note, while Hypography has improved my spelling, it generally has not increased my vocabulary. I find my dictionary the surrest source for both increasing my vocabulary & confirming spelling.

Excellent point Sir Turtle, writing is necessary for the improvement of ones spelling. Keep that dictionary close at hand, it will save many an embarrassing moment. Case in point; When I checked my dictionary for the spelling of embarrassing, I noticed there were two r's instead of only one as I had initially wrote it in this post................Infy

[Drip Curl Magic]

I remember all throughout elementary school-highschool, I would take standardized tests.... and I'd score almost everything in the 90th percentile... Except for SPELLING. Spelling always got me. I usually scored 30th-60th percentile in spelling. But I didn't sweat it too much, my mother always told me that spelling is one of the least important subjects in school. My mother has always encouraged creativity in content rather than gramatical correctness. I come from a very artistic and musical oriented family, so that's just kind of the way my family has raised me. It's not the way it looks on paper that matters, it's the ideas that are expressed that truely count.

Although, ever since I've taken a liking to reading lots of books in my spare time, my grammer has improved considerably.

[Tormod]

Originally Posted by Drip Curl Magic

Although, ever since I've taken a liking to reading lots of books in my spare time, my grammer has improved considerably.

I'm like that...read read read read read read... Life would be so boring without books.

But I get really pissed off when I find spelling mistakes in books that I read. I have actually done part-time work as a proofreader and I know that one or two mistakes are sort of "required", but when you get one on every few pages it's painful.

[infamous]

Originally Posted by Tormod

I'm like that...read read read read read read... Life would be so boring without books.

But I get really pissed off when I find spelling mistakes in books that I read. I have actually done part-time work as a proofreader and I know that one or two mistakes are sort of "required", but when you get on on every few pages it's painful.

Very true Tormod, one begins to wonder if the author can't spell correctly, how much stock should we invest in his opinions.........Besides which, it is as you suggest, very distracting.........Infy