Spelling

[papayahed]

how apropo.

[Sweets America]

I wonder about something: I have heard that in some English schools they allowed pupils to write in text language! Is that true?!

My History of the English Language instructor today was talking to us about standardized spelling and how Middle English didn't have it. They pretty much spelled things however they liked, it wasn't even standardized within the same text.

Yes, I've seen that too when we were studying Shakespeare.

[Niamh]

I'm pretty bad a spelling. But these days i find myself battling the new habit of Txt lingo and it getting into regular letters etc. I generally have to start over again. When i first got a mobile phone i made it a point to spell everything correctly instead of "R u N work at d Wkd?" but eight years later and i've fallen ito the trap. I think its very important that people do spell correctly.

I wonder about something: I have heard that in some English schools they allowed pupils to write in text language! Is that true?!



Yes, I've seen that too when we were studying Shakespeare.

I dont think thats true Sweets.

[Sweets America]

I dont think thats true Sweets.

Well it's a student in my class who said that to our teacher and the teacher did not seem surprised by it. Some other students also said they had heard it, so I wonder.

[kilted exile]

I used to be able to spell, then I started Secondary School and it was very much the vogue to focus on the idea being correct rather than the spelling/grammer resulting in my pathetic spelling & grammar now.

[Shea]

Wow,this is a blast from the past! I'd totally forgotten about that story.

I was in an elevator today for the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. They'd fixed a quote from that Prince song, "Baby you're much too fast" high around the wall of it. Except that they spelled "you're" - "you'r". At least they remembered the apostrophe.

[Sweets America]

I think that might be what I was talking about, but it's not in England, it's in New Zeland!
From Wiki:

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has announced that a shorter version of English known as txt language will be acceptable in the external end of year exams. Txt language is where words are shortened for easier mobile phone usage, e.g. txt is for text, lol is for laugh out loud, brb is for be right back, etc.

Txt language has been approved if the marker can see that the paper "clearly shows the required understanding", however the NZQA still advises not to use it. Bali Haque, deputy chief executive of NZQA, said: "Students should aim to make their answers as clear as possible. Markers involved in assessing NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) exams are trained professionals, experienced in interpreting the variety of writing styles and language uses encountered during the marking process," Mr Haque is confident that marker will understand txt language.

Educators and students alike are divided saying that it will be easier and others saying it could damage the English language.

So, I have not been hallucinating.

[Tersely]

But these days i find myself battling the new habit of Txt lingo

Oh...guilty as charged. Its an awful habit to get into and worse to get out. Spelling is important...expecially in job searches. I had a co-worker spell "awkward" as "auuqard" and theres no need to tell you she didnt get that coveted managers job. They couldn't trust her to send emails to corporate. Hilarious but unfortunate.

[Shea]

I work a queue of tickets at work and have to contact my customers via instant message because they are in call centers. Some of the responses that I get are very cryptic! It occasionally takes me a minute to figure out what exactly they were trying to say. Every once in a while, I just have to ask them.

[Lily Adams]

A friend of hers grew up going to this "different" school where spelling wasn't taught at all. She says that he's a very smart person but has a really hard time now that he's trying to standardize his spelling. He can even spell a word such as "one" it winds up looking like "wun".

Whoah! Where was that?!

I must admit I can be a bit strict on spelling and grammar.

[Shea]

Whoah! Where was that?!

I must admit I can be a bit strict on spelling and grammar.

lol, I barely remember my proff telling that story let alone where he went to school.

My coworkers, being a bunch of IT guys, tease me sometimes because they know I taught English. So I correct their grammar for them when they say "good" when they should have used "well", or when they say "had went" instead of "had gone".

[papayahed]

I have such a problem with grammar. I have to write letters and reports for work and I'm always looking up grammar rules. I wish they had adult grammar classes, I haven't found any as of yet.

[Virgil]

A rather interesting story.

My History of the English Language instructor today was talking to us about standardized spelling and how Middle English didn't have it. They pretty much spelled things however they liked, it wasn't even standardized within the same text. A friend of hers grew up going to this "different" school where spelling wasn't taught at all. She says that he's a very smart person but has a really hard time now that he's trying to standardize his spelling. He can even spell a word such as "one" it winds up looking like "wun".

How crazy is that?!

That is crazy and terrible. The school has ruined that person. My history with spelling is that I was always a terrible speller growing up, but then improved quite a bit in college, and then they came out with spell check on computers and I've regressed back. As many people can see from my posts, I can no longer spell without spell check.

[pussnboots]

oh dear Virgil, TSK! TSK! if you claim to use spellcheck I would go back to your post about what you had for christmas dinner. I believe you had some typos there.

[Shea]

I have such a problem with grammar. I have to write letters and reports for work and I'm always looking up grammar rules. I wish they had adult grammar classes, I haven't found any as of yet.

Try http://dailygrammar.com/. You can get free emails with a new lesson in them.

Also an excellent book to take a look at - Painless Grammar.