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The Gr8 Text Debate
Are the trends in text speak damaging the language?
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British urged to point out baffling signs
A national audit is to be made of the UK's vast collection of ungrammatical, misspelt, out of date and inexplicably mystifying public signs, using the general public as error spotters.
The situation has long been tackled by grammar vigilantes, particularly in West London, where many signs have hand painted apostrophes squeezed into their rightful places.
Beginning in Leeds, local authorities now aim to eradicate signs which point both ways, direct tourists into closed-off alleyways or towards long-dismantled attractions, or have apostrophes missing. A national audit is to be made of the UK's vast collection of ungrammatical, misspelt, out of date and inexplicably mystifying pu... more -
Too clever to spell? Wrong spelling can indicate 'too much' knowledge
You might be inclined to think that bad spelling is due to someone's lack of knowledge or even intelligence, but apparently you are wrong: spelling mistakes are not always down to ignorance or stupidity, but they are sometimes made because people simply know too much.
Researchers at Collins Dictionaries found that the most commonly misspelt word was supersede - being wrong on one in ten occasions. The problem arises because people use their knowledge of the words that have a phonetically similar ending, like intercede, precede or cede, from the Latin cedere - to yield. They then wrongly assume that supersede is spelt with a 'c'.
The less scholarly can still slip up if they base their spelling on words that are similar. Many are tempted to spell liquefy as liquify, simply because they know the correct spelling of liquid or inoculate with a double 'n' because they know how to spell innocuous.
Another common reason for misspelling is where words are spelt differently from their pronunciation. The top five misspelt words in this category are conscience, indict, foreign, mortgage and phlegm.
Ian Brookes, the managing editor of dictionaries at Collins, said: "The real spelling problems occur when people have learnt the rules or have a bit of knowledge, but then make mistakes in how they apply this." You might be inclined to think that bad spelling is due to someone's lack of knowledge or even intelligence, but apparently you a... more -
Unviersitay stoodentz kant spel
Apparently a worrying number of UK undergrads are so bad at spelling that a member of staff at Bucks New University has been 'forced to ignore common errors altogether,' and to just accept them as 'variants.'
According to a senior criminology lecturer at Bucks New University, first year students are the worst offenders, claiming that "atrocious" spelling was rife amongst them. He says that common words like "their", "speech" and even "Wednesday" are all regularly misspelt, as well as 'failing to apply basic rules, such as "i before e, except after c".
Are these students showing a lack of basic literacy? Or are they just still a bit smashed from all the snakebite and black? Apparently a worrying number of UK undergrads are so bad at spelling that a member of staff at Bucks New University has been 'fo... more -
PAOMNNEHAL PWEOR OF THE HMUAN MNID
If you can read this title then you will know what this is about. The amazing power of the human mind!
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13 Year Old Indian Boy win 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee
13 year old Indian origin Sameer Mishra from Indiana is the winner of the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Beating 288 children in the 8-15 age group, Sameer finally managed to win the highly sought after contest in his fourth attempt. Sameer finished 98th in 2005, 14th in 2006 and 16th in 2007. “I told my mom I was going to do the bee,” Sameer told the press. “And if I was going to do it, I was going to win it one day. And I guess it happened.”
Read Full Story at http://www.worldamazingrecords.com 13 year old Indian origin Sameer Mishra from Indiana is the winner of the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Beating 288 children in ... more -
Dealbreaker: The Bad Speller
What is a deal breaker when you are dating? I think bad spelling could become super annoying and it can make a grown adult look like a moron. What do you think? What is a deal breaker when you are dating? I think bad spelling could become super annoying and it can make a grown adult look like a... more
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Indiana boy wins Spelling Bee
Indian-origin boy Sameer Mishra has won Scripps National Spelling Bee contest beating 288 children in the 8 to 15 age group.
The boy from West Lafayette, Indiana, who often had the audience laughing with his one-line commentaries, aced "guerdon" - a word that appropriately means "something that one has earned or gained" - to win competition. Indian-origin boy Sameer Mishra has won Scripps National Spelling Bee contest beating 288 children in the 8 to 15 age group. ... more -
Grammar is for grown-ups too.
That's right. Just because we're not in grammar school anymore, doesn't mean that we should loosen our grasp on grammar. Because let's face it: bad grammar makes you look stupid. Especially when it's written out for everyone to see.
"These days, we tend to communicate via the keyboard as much as we do verbally. Often we're in a hurry, quickly dashing off emails with typos, grammatical shortcuts (I'm being kind here), and that breezy, e.e. cummings, no-caps look."
Sound familiar? Take a look at this list of common mistakes and see where you're stumbling.
because it's important to bee professoinal irregardless of whether your workin or not That's right. Just because we're not in grammar school anymore, doesn't mean that we should loosen our grasp on grammar... more -
What's your favourite word?
Click the link to see which word came out tops in a recent survey of 2000 people. I've got to admit I probably would have said the same!
Don't be a *(%K($#^OO&, click the link and see what you think!
Not your favourite word? Don't worry, just post it here, think of it as a current survey! Click the link to see which word came out tops in a recent survey of 2000 people. I've got to admit I probably would have said th... more -
Good Spellers age better than poor spellers
Poor spellers get worse at spelling as they get older, whereas good spellers don't. That's according to Sara Margolin and Lise Abrams who say that being a good speller appears to afford people protection from the detrimental effect that getting older can have on spelling ability. Poor spellers get worse at spelling as they get older, whereas good spellers don't. That's according to Sara Margolin and Li... more
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The Bsst Speller
The 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee once again offered excitement and tense competition as 286 4th through 7th graders squared off in the annual event. This year's winner received over $45,000 in cash prizes. The 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee once again offered excitement and tense competition as 286 4th through 7th graders squared off ... more
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