The BBC quotes an Internet entrepreneur as saying that “sales figures suggest misspellings put off consumers who could have concerns about a website’s credibility”. I didn’t think it was newsworthy that typos on sales sites look shoddy and untrustworthy, and make people think twice before buying. My opinions of authors are always negatively influenced by the presence of typing errors. Please note that I am the mother of two children with dyslexia, both of whom find it nearly impossible to write a single, error-free sentence.
I know I am a bit of a writing snob. Growing up, I participated in many a spelling bee. My essays were frequently read out aloud as good examples for the other students. Today I still find some delight in pinpointing typos in printed materials. Yet when I try to impress upon the younger generation the value of correct spelling, I am often met with blank stares. They simply do not see the value of writing correctly.
It is clear that there is no longer any emphasis in today’s classroom on the finer points of spelling, and in fact, spelling mistakes are overlooked altogether. (Don’t even get me started on poor, neglected punctuation and grammar.) My Nana adopted English as her fourth or fifth language when she moved to Australia from Europe when she was already in her thirties. She grew to enjoy the language so much–unraveling words to their Greek and Latin cores–that she became something of a language expert in her own kitchen, setting herself the daily challenge of solving the newspaper’s cryptic crossword*.
Back to the classroom: Over the years there have been arguments swinging both ways as to the advantages of cursive (connected) writing over manuscript (block) writing. Which is faster? Not clear. However, it has been proven that cursive writing assists some types of learners internalize spelling rules and may even help with brain development, according to Helium.
In recent years, the writing debate has shifted from cursive versus manuscript to whether children need to be taught to write by hand at all! Ah. The challenges of the digital age. “Why Does Writing Make Us Smarter?” asks The Huffington Post. Apparently, there are cognitive benefits to simply putting a pen to paper. And so today’s teachers and parents must fight for children to perform this act on a daily basis. For the sakes of their futures, will our children need the associated skills? So far, there is no evidence to suggest that their brains are actually less developed than previous generations’.
* Example of a cryptic crossword clue: “Morning snack as far as it goes.” Five letters. Answer: Ambit.
How do you get from the clue to the answer? Morning = a.m. Snack as far as it goes = bite with the e missing. As far as it goes is within one’s limits, or ambit.
