# Spelling on the web **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 17, 2015, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871 "2015-10-17T02:42:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/21 "2015-10-17T16:00:37Z")
We certainly see more of the average guy’s writing now. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/22 "2015-10-17T16:04:10Z")
I am dyslexia and hard of hearing so my spelling is really poor , I use spell check but , I don’t always get the word I want and if I don’t poof read before posting there could be a wrong word. I see a lot of people of a deaf forum I use using the wrong words . Red for ‘read’ bread for ‘breed’ and the best on yet was on a TV court show when a woman was told the judge she had a 'green 'car then she spelled it out loudly “GREN” LOL! The poor judge was trying his best not crack up laughing out loud. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/23 "2015-10-17T16:15:14Z")
Is English or ASL the first language that you used? ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/24 "2015-10-17T18:39:07Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Tori? [Tori Spelling.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tori_Spelling) ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/25 "2015-10-17T20:02:45Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > One enjoys the word choice errors and punctuation errors in an OP complaining about internet (lack of) literacy. Does one? I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/26 "2015-10-17T23:56:53Z")
The web has certainly taught me that a shocking number of English-writing people–indeed, maybe approaching half–don’t know the difference between “worse” and “worst.” I can’t count the times I’ve seen “He was the worse singer I ever heard” or variations thereof. Just once and I’d think it was a typo, but it happens far too often now for me to think it’s a slip. Drives me frickin’ bonkers. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/27 "2015-10-18T00:13:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Especially amusing, sometimes you’ll get a person who knows a word both as a set of sounds and as a sequence of letters, but who doesn’t realize that they’re the same word. Yeah. It was a while before I realised “orderves” and hors d’oeuvres were the same word. ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/28 "2015-10-18T00:49:45Z")
> [@choie](#): > > The web has certainly taught me that a shocking number of English-writing people–indeed, maybe approaching half–don’t know the difference between “worse” and “worst.” I can’t count the times I’ve seen “He was the worse singer I ever heard” or variations thereof. Just once and I’d think it was a typo, but it happens far too often now for me to think it’s a slip. > > Drives me frickin’ bonkers. I don’t know, if I’m not careful and I’m typing on my phone, this sort of thing happens to me occasionally. Autocorrect is the worse. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/29 "2015-10-18T01:16:09Z")
> [@choie](#): > > The web has certainly taught me that a shocking number of English-writing people–indeed, maybe approaching half–don’t know the difference between “worse” and “worst.” I can’t count the times I’ve seen “He was the worse singer I ever heard” or variations thereof. Just once and I’d think it was a typo, but it happens far too often now for me to think it’s a slip. > > Drives me frickin’ bonkers. It could be worst. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/30 "2015-10-18T01:17:40Z")
> [@glowacks](#): > > [Tori Spelling.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tori_Spelling) Thanks. 🙂 This forum requires that you wait 60 seconds between posts. Please try again in 2 seconds ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/31 "2015-10-18T01:26:55Z")
> [@Mikeisskeptical](#): > > Does one? I don’t. I wood like to know how I screwed up. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/32 "2015-10-18T01:29:34Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Is English or ASL the first language that you used? I don’t know ASL , I was learning it about 40 years ago and forgotten it. ASL was not taught to hoh and deaf kids when I was in school and my dad would never had allowed me to talk with my hands. No one knew I was hoh until I was 8 yo so I missed a lot in school . I took typing in high school and b/c I am dyslexia I could 60 words per minute and the words were spelled backward ! . ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/33 "2015-10-18T01:36:08Z")
> [@purplehearingaid](#): > > I don’t know ASL , I was learning it about 40 years ago and forgotten it. ASL was not taught to hoh and deaf kids when I was in school and my dad would never had allowed me to talk with my hands. No one knew I was hoh until I was 8 yo so I missed a lot in school . I took typing in high school and b/c I am dyslexia I could 60 words per minute and the words were spelled backward ! > . It is very difficult to translate some things written by folks who have ASL as a first language. I made 60 WPM in junior high, but I’ve lost it. ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/34 "2015-10-18T01:39:20Z")
I am not sure I understand how a person could not understand that they are being judged by their use of language and their choice of words. I would think that it they are criticized all the time for using the wrong word. I have always been very good at spelling (although my grammar leaves something to be desired, however) and I have never been at a loss as to which is the correct word when several might be available. As far as I know, I am not an extremely smart (76 yo) person but luckily something stuck with me in my schooling (nothing past high school) which stood me in good stead. (Luckily doesn’t look correct, LOL.) I am unable, on this board, to point out incorrect word usage and spelling, because I get shouted down. I do notice, however, that most of the members will gently suggest a correct spelling in a follow up response to the post. I really, though, wish schools would/could do a better job in this. Bob ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/35 "2015-10-18T01:55:55Z")
> [@urban1a](#): > > I am not sure I understand how a person could not understand that they are being judged by their use of language and their choice of words. I would think that it they are criticized all the time for using the wrong word. I have always been very good at spelling (although my grammar leaves something to be desired, however) and I have never been at a loss as to which is the correct word when several might be available. As far as I know, I am not an extremely smart (76 yo) person but luckily something stuck with me in my schooling (nothing past high school) which stood me in good stead. (Luckily doesn’t look correct, LOL.) > > I am unable, on this board, to point out incorrect word usage and spelling, because I get shouted down. I do notice, however, that most of the members will gently suggest a correct spelling in a follow up response to the post. > > I really, though, wish schools would/could do a better job in this. > > Bob I think it is in bad taste to criticize someone’s spelling in the 'Dope. It is often a last resort in an argument. I always want to spell it “arguement”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/36 "2015-10-18T01:56:37Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > On an aquarium Facebook page, a fellow posted “coral war fair”. Are you certain he was not referring to a fair commemorating the Battle of the Coral Sea in WWII? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/37 "2015-10-18T02:05:06Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Are you certain he was not referring to a fair commemorating the Battle of the Coral Sea in WWII? By G-d, I may have misjudged him! ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/38 "2015-10-18T02:12:49Z")
> [@urban1a](#): > > I am unable, on this board, to point out incorrect word usage and spelling, because I get shouted down. I do notice, however, that most of the members will gently suggest a correct spelling in a follow up response to the post. I generally think it’s bad manners to do so outside of an English classroom. If I genuinely don’t understand what someone is saying, or if the meaning is slightly ambiguous I might ask for clarification. Other than that, I see no reason to correct people without being asked. Particularly online, I have no idea about that person’s background, their age, whether English is their first language, what their education level is or whether or not they have some difficulty with written comprehension. It would seem presumptuous to me, to take on the role of teacher about anything other than the topic under discussion. Often I see it used as a substitute for a pertinent rebuttal or to justify a sense of superiority. We all have strengths and weaknesses. ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/39 "2015-10-18T02:21:14Z")
I used to be a spelling Nazi, then I realized that between auto-correct, poor typing skills, and an inability to stop hitting “Post” before a checked my copy, my posts were just as typo riddled as everyone else’s. Plus, I got run on sentence disease. Formal letters, school papers, that’s different. Man, posts in comments, life’s too short. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871/40 "2015-10-18T02:24:51Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I think it is in bad taste to criticize someone’s spelling in the 'Dope. It is often a last resort in an argument. I always want to spell it “arguement”. 🙂 Sometimes it can be nitpicky, yes. (Like pointing out that “nitpicky” isn’t really a word.) But the OP – that would be you – makes a good point. That would be the following: “Do people not learn to spell in school, or what?” It’s annoying. And here I’ll generalize beyond just simple spelling mistakes, which are probably the least offensive, but also to grammatical mistakes, bad sentence structure, and the common problem of getting homonyms and near-homonyms all mixed up – their, there; to, too; its, it’s; your, you’re; then, than – it goes on forever. I enjoyed a recent reply to someone commenting about “a heard of horses” by the poster who said he’d herd all about that. I’m sure it was probably an innocent mistake and I’ve sometimes done it myself, but it was still funny. 🙂 And it matters. It matters because when it’s systematic, it’s some combination of lack of knowledge and laziness. It matters because if a person lacks sufficient knowledge to even be able to write properly, then you’re legitimately entitled to wonder what other knowledge they lack, such as what the hell they’re talking about. It matters because it’s sometimes really a serious barrier to communication, where the onus has been put on you the reader to really have to work hard at understanding what the person is trying to say. And sometimes you can’t figure it out at all. And the “laziness” part is an indictment of those who don’t understand that shifting the burden of comprehension onto the reader is rude and inconsiderate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-on-the-web/734871.md?page=3)