To spell or not to spell, that is the question.

I will be the first to admit that my online use of the English language, both in grammar and spelling, leave a great deal to be desired. Whether chat rooms, email or even posting and responding to blogs, there is a loose quality to the way we communicate electronically. We use short cuts, abbreviations and emoticons to try and breathe some personality and individuality to what we say and how we say it. It is the postmodern vernacular and it helps to define us and our times.

 

All that being said, I am appalled by the simple proofreading errors I find when visiting online news outlets. For example, on Space.com, an article about the beginning of the new solar cycle read, “signal the new cycle’s stars” instead of “start”, and a local news website, when discussing a model aviation club’s fundraising event said, “putting dozens of model plans in the air” rather than “planes”. I see it on other sites too, from the NY Times to national TV news sites, AP, you name it. 

 

There was a time when print news was considered the standard of the language in which it was written, but no longer. There’s a reason grammar is a core course for English, education, journalism and communication degrees. 

 

Most of the problem is mine. I am easily distracted and when these typos pop up they break my flow of thought and it just irritates me to no end. I am sure others aren’t as bothered by this as I. It’s just that it is so easy to correct. Turn off spell check and auto correct in your word processor and actually use your eyes to find your mistakes. It’s not a new idea, I think they call them proofreaders.

 

When I have taught writing in elementary and secondary schools, proofreading is essential to the process. The kids hate taking the time, but when they do, it makes them better writers. But why should they put forth the effort, why even try, when the people in the jobs who should do it the most don’t bother at all.

Comments

[Jan]

You mean like spelling bear when you mean beer? Damn that JoeKev! Sometimes it's not the lack of proofreading, but just the extreme quantities of 50!