Attrocious spelling

[paigetheoracle]

Has anyone else noticed the declining standard in spelling - not only in posts here but even in National Newspapers?

Is this a sign of the end of civilization, even in a small way because nobody can be bothered to check the results of their actions anymore (If it's happening intellectually then it's most probably happening physically too)?

[Mercedes Benzene]

Has anyone else noticed the declining standard in spelling - not only in posts here but even in National Newspapers?

No. I'm sorry, but I cannot say that I have. I understand how people may incorrectly spell words here on Hypography simply because they type so fast.
I know that is true for me. I know that slight spelling errors will not really affect the overall outcome of my post, so I do not bother checking it for errors.

A "declining standard in spelling" in newspapers on the other hand, is completely unacceptable. I do not see that happen to often, but if it does, it most certainly shouldn't.

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by paigetheoracle

Has anyone else noticed the declining standard in spelling - not only in posts here but even in National Newspapers?

Is this a sign of the end of civilization, even in a small way because nobody can be bothered to check the results of their actions anymore (If it's happening intellectually then it's most probably happening physically too)?

Absolutely! While some misspellings may have their root in 'typos', particularly on the web, it is obvious much of it is simple ignorance of the proper spelling and/or usage. If it wasn't so sad it would be funny.

I find it particularly disconcerting in expository posts/articles that pretend to authority or proficiency. While using a dictionary, spell check, or simply reviewing one's work used to be de rigueur, concision is now mocked. When words are all we have here, it is hardly elitist to expect their proper employment.

[Boerseun]

...and that's atrocious, with one t, by the way!

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Boerseun

...and that's atrocious, with one t, by the way!

He may have done that intentionally, something I am fond of doing for effect. Unfortunately, that ploy is lost on pour speelers.

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by paigetheoracle

Has anyone else noticed the declining standard in spelling - not only in posts here but even in National Newspapers?

The problem is:- "Declining from when?"
Last year? 10 years ago? 50 years ago?
Are there standard tests that have been done across populations to test your hypothesis?
There are a zillion opinions here are dozens
http://www.dest.gov.au/nitl/submissions/61-80.htm
examples
Mr Mike McLennan, WA

The writer points to the increasing illiteracy of the average school and university graduate of recent years, and claims that lowered standards have been used to cover up ineffective teaching methods that ignore age old basics of phonetics, grammar and penmanship. The writer recommends the Study Technology of L Ron Hubbard as a superior method of teaching that will result in a fully literate student.

and here
http://www.dest.gov.au/nitl/submissions/21-40.htm

This submission encloses a paper about a spelling simplification system which uses a phonetically-based alphabet. The system is designed to be used in parallel with the existing spelling system and uses thirty strict sound/symbol rules
. The submission suggests that with the introduction of this new spelling system, the whole-word approach, which in contrast requires tens of thousands of English words to be learnt, would become obsolete.

The above may have a point (Thow it all out and start again?)if you look at the Hypography homonym thread(I had to spell check that!)

Here is an attempt to set national standards
http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:...ient=firefox-a

Personally I don't think my brain is wired to spell. I rely heavily on spell checkers. My two finger typing does not help either

[Monomer]

I have noticed the increasing careless use of the old apostrophe. It's being placed incorrectly in front of an "s" more and more. Last I heard the apostrophe is used only to denote a missing letter(s) or to denote possession. However, I see them used everywhere to denote plurals. Do editors still exist, and do they still understand the rules of grammar?

So it's not just spelling that's falling by the wayside, but grammar too.

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Monomer

I have noticed the increasing careless use of the old apostrophe. It's being placed incorrectly in front of an "s" more and more. Last I heard the apostrophe is used only to denote a missing letter(s) or to denote possession. However, I see them used everywhere to denote plurals. Do editors still exist, and do they still understand the rules of grammar?

So it's not just spelling that's falling by the wayside, but grammar too.

Yes, I notice that as well. The apostrophe is appropriate for some plurals, as in 3's. I intended to use it as you mean, but I'm drawing a blank.

At any rate, as far as the web writing goes, I think editorship first falls to the writer, and when a pattern of misuse develops, editorship goes the readers. That is to say for myself, if I make a consistent mistake (to differentiate from occasional typos) and no one brings it to attention, it is a missed opportunity for correction. As the forum is public it isn't just my loss, but a loss for all readers.
Yes, grammar is important too. When one learns to recognize good writing, one is better prepared to produce it.

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by Monomer

I have noticed the increasing careless use of the old apostrophe.

Pretty rampant here too.
The Sydney Morning Herald's Column 8 ran a series for months called "Apostrophe Man" where readers sent in samples of apostrophe miss-use.

For a really readable fun book about punctuation read Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss
It is a great, easy to read book(even if you think you know how to punctuate).
Her follow up book on declining manners is not half so good.

In web forums, like this, you need to allow a lot of leeway in punctuation, spelling and grammar otherwise everyone will be too frightened to write anything. Science graduates are renowned for their ponderous prose.

[InfiniteNow]

Writing used to be limited to news and books and letters, much more permanent and long lasting. We are now part of a much faster paced civilization with soft copies of everything... email and text messages and back to back meetings, so we take short-cuts. It's just a new medium, a new dialect as it were, and some of the former formalisms are being let go.

Cood B good, n u2 might pikitup b4 u kno...

L8r.


(I, on the other hand, couldn't even bring myself to leave the "k" off of no... )