Image credit to sharlapatrick.com
Don’t get me wrong, I love the spell checker.
I used to pride myself on my spelling. I rarely had to look a word up to double-check it. But that was back when I used to be able to write. Which reminds me, am I the only one who has trouble writing anymore since the advent of the word processor? When I find myself needing to write a personal note long hand, it’s like I’m back in second grade.
I seem to stumble over the simplest of phrases and my spelling acumen has fallen precipitously. Hey, at least I can still write in cursive. Eat your heart out millennials! By the way, I got precipitously right the first time!
But back to the spell checker. As I said, I love it. Every type of application using a word processor has a spell checker with it. In today’s age of hurry up communications, I now type letters to my friends and family. Not to mention the typing required in blogging, using Facebook and Twitter and texting. I tend to misspell, leave out letters, reverse letters, etc.
But there’s just one problem with it. Spell checker doesn’t stay culturally in tune. It still won’t recognize the words blog or blogging (yes, the red underline just showed up as I typed these two words). Mediakix.com estimates that there are about 440 million blogs in the world. Wouldn’t you think spell checkers might want to update their spelling vocabulary by now? The irony of all this is that the spell checker in use as I type this is in WordPress. My God, if WordPress won’t even recognize the word blog, why go on?
And one other thing, spell checker can actually red my mind. Did you see what I did there? I typed red instead of the word read. Spell checker didn’t underline it because red is also a real word. But when I go to publish this pot (again intentional mispelling) WordPress will ask me if I meant to say “read’ and “post” before publishing. How do it know?
But blog or blogging will not make the cut.
Well, that’s my rant about spell checker. I guess if you come right down to it, people might be able to read my blog without any spell checking whatsoever. As evidence, I give you this:
” It deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae.
Hope you enjoyed reading for a spell.
The Cvillean 
Of course, the other issue nowadays is when you text someone and the text control guru takes your misspelled word or spoken word and changes into something you did not mean to write and you click send and THEN you proof read and you go aughghghhg but by then it is too late. I had a great one recently where I was texting my sister in law after a night where I had an itching attack and woke up really itchy and scratchy and I texted her that I had an itching attack and after I hit send I realized the text control guru used a rhyming word that begins with a B….I was laughing so hard that I could hardly get the next text out to correct the error.
That story is hilarious! I don’t do a lot of texting but I never use the verbal app. Actually I use a blue-tooth keyboard because I’m not nimble enough to punch it with my fingers. When I see my granddaughters texting so lightning fast I feel really really incompetent!
I believe spell checker has ruined not only peoples’ ability to spell correctly but to use proper grammar as well. What is supposed to make life easier is actually making us dumber, at least in my opinion.
I’m with you on not being able to hand write personal greetings any more. It’s like I want to type out what I want to say, print it, and then cut and paste it into the greeting card. Is that wrong? Tacky? At least there wouldn’t be anything scribbled out because I screwed up while I was writing.
Thanks for the post. I feel your pain or frustration or mild awareness or curiosity or . . . well something.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
You’re right, Patricia. I find myself not trying as hard to spell correctly as I type because I know spell checker has my back. For example, I’ve had three words red underlined in just this short comment. What more can I say………
As for greeting cards, I find myself sending e-cards more and more. Do you think I am destined to go to hell because of my laziness and lack of personal touch?
I think we’ve come full circle with spelling, which was once quite fluid: think of the many ways Shakespeare, the word master, spelled – or spelt – his own name.
I know what you mean by handwriting. Sometimes I want to leave a simple note to my husband, and by the time I’m done, I can’t read it! So I hop on the computer and send him an email… even though he is in the same house as I am, but still asleep…
As for cursive – I asked my grandchildren if they had figured out how to sign their name yet. They looked at me like I was from a different planet, until I pointed out to them that there were still a few times in their lives where they will have to have a signature.
Last but not least, what is your twitter name? I’ll follow you.
Hi Margy. Twitter name is@Herrwictor. Victor is my first name. Do you remember the nurse in “Young Frankenstein” played by Cloris Leachman. She referred to her lover, Victor Frankenstein, as “Herr Wictor”. So now you know.
I am @thequippery
I’ve officially followed you.
I just joined Twitter a few months ago. It is fascinating to follow the news in a forum that actually challenges whether something is true – in real time.
My Bro, slightly off topic, but did you ever see the Morecombe and Wise clip, with Andre Previn? ‘I am playing all the right notes, not necessarily in the right order’…… ❤ hugs for you and Patty. xXx
I will check it out, sis.
I too used to be a great speller. Lately the one finger typing has rendered me alphabet-bereft. Thanks for making me laf.
I love that new word alpha-bereft. And yur welcom.
I have never used a spell checker Al. If I am unsure of a word, I type it into Google search and the options always comes up with the right spelling. Have a grate weak ! 😉
Gud to know yer speling is always purfact, Ralph.
I enjoyed reading this post. Your last sentence made me laugh.
Thanks, Diane. It’s so good to have you aboard! Hope all is well over there in W-S.