# Where has all the spelling gone? Long time passing.... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 19, 2005, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614 "2005-05-19T18:46:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/61 "2005-05-20T16:24:03Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Alalcuty tihs is not ture: yvuoe dlctlsriaay oflpvmsreieiid how hnmaus unsrtndead wietrtn lggnauae. > > Daniel Still, it’s amazing. I’m awful at anagramming, but I was able to read your sentence without much trouble. I just briefly stumbled on “drastically.” As for dashes, I have book somewhere at home—a novel, not a stylebook—in which there’s a note about how they’ve decided to swap out all the old-style em dashes without spaces in favor of en dashes surrounded by a space (or maybe a half space). ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/62 "2005-05-20T17:12:16Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Alalcuty tihs is not ture: yvuoe dlctlsriaay oflpvmsreieiid how hnmaus unsrtndead wietrtn lggnauae. > > Daniel Fnnuy eye had lttile turoble udnertsading it. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/63 "2005-05-20T17:26:43Z")
Grammar and punctuation are important only in order to avoid confusion as to the meaning of written words. People obsess over the “rules”, but they’re really not that important except in formal writing. This applies to spelling as well, but less so, because one generally has to garble spelling a lot in order to make the meaning unclear. Formal writing is different, but learning to spell properly is not worth my time. If I need to submit an article to a chemistry journal, I can just head down to a local coffee shop and find some some english Ph.D. who I can pay minimum wage to proofread my work 😉 . ---
**Author:** ![Feydeau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Feydeau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feydeau)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/64 "2005-05-20T17:38:08Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > but learning to spell properly is not worth my time. So, you’d rather be viewed as less than intelligent? I am truly saddened by the tendency I’ve seen lately to not care about “trivial” matters such as spelling, grammar, &etc. Proper spelling is as important as personal hygiene. You (generic, group “you”) may not agree, and maybe I’m being elitist, but it’s true. How one presents oneself communicates a level of self-esteem. Make a fucking effort, people. This laziness and shoddiness I’ve seen of late will surely contribute to the ultimate downfall of civilization. First, it’s the spelling, then it’s the punctuation, then, suddenly, mass-murder in the streets. “Oh, it’s only the second-class neighbors. They don’t matter much.” ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/65 "2005-05-20T17:44:07Z")
> [@Feydeau](#): > > This laziness and shoddiness I’ve seen of late will surely contribute to the ultimate downfall of civilization. First, it’s the spelling, then it’s the punctuation, then, suddenly, mass-murder in the streets. Cats and dogs, living together . . . I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen something like this posted: fcuk of aboutmy, speling, it dozint mater teh hole perpisof langwidj iss comuunikashun!, ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/66 "2005-05-20T17:50:22Z")
> [@Feydeau](#): > > So, you’d rather be viewed as less than intelligent? > > I am truly saddened by the tendency I’ve seen lately to not care about “trivial” matters such as spelling, grammar, &etc. > > Proper spelling is as important as personal hygiene. You (generic, group “you”) may not agree, and maybe I’m being elitist, but it’s true. How one presents oneself communicates a level of self-esteem. > > Make a fucking effort, people. This laziness and shoddiness I’ve seen of late will surely contribute to the ultimate downfall of civilization. First, it’s the spelling, then it’s the punctuation, then, suddenly, mass-murder in the streets. “Oh, it’s only the second-class neighbors. They don’t matter much.” OK, I hope we have all been whooshed. If not the OP is one serious anal retentive asshole. I mean come on. Truley saddened about poor spelling. With all the fucked up stuff going on in the world. Annoyed, sure. Pet peeve, OK. but Truely saddened. Fuckin A, get a grip. :smack: 😛 :rolleyes: :eek: ;j ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/67 "2005-05-20T17:51:27Z")
> [@Feydeau](#): > > I am truly saddened by the tendency I’ve seen lately to not care about “trivial” matters such as spelling, grammar, &etc. _cough_ You mean either “etc” or “&c” or “&/c,” but not “&etc,” unless you’re saying “and and so forth.” ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/68 "2005-05-20T17:54:52Z")
> [@Feydeau](#): > > So, you’d rather be viewed as less than intelligent? > > I am truly saddened by the tendency I’ve seen lately to not care about “trivial” matters such as spelling, grammar, &etc. > > Proper spelling is as important as personal hygiene. You (generic, group “you”) may not agree, and maybe I’m being elitist, but it’s true. How one presents oneself communicates a level of self-esteem. > > Make a fucking effort, people. This laziness and shoddiness I’ve seen of late will surely contribute to the ultimate downfall of civilization. First, it’s the spelling, then it’s the punctuation, then, suddenly, mass-murder in the streets. “Oh, it’s only the second-class neighbors. They don’t matter much.” Surely you would be glad to be rid of the second-class neighbours, if they were the ones who refuse to spell correctly. Of course, when those people have all been murdered, then the killers might move on to those who type “&etc.” and "to not care " and who will there be to come to your aid when so many others already lie, dead, fly-ridden and rotting, in every street and alleyway? Fear ye, fear ye, say I. 😃 “Doomed! Doomed” We’re all doomed" ---
**Author:** ![Feydeau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Feydeau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feydeau)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/69 "2005-05-20T17:57:42Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > OK, I hope we have all been whooshed. If not the OP is one serious anal retentive asshole. But I’m a _nice_ anal-retentive asshole! ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/70 "2005-05-20T17:59:06Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > _cough_ > > You mean either “etc” or “&c” or “&/c,” but not “&etc,” unless you’re saying “and and so forth.” Ah, **pulykamell** , by my troth, thou doth type faster than I, and with a most pleasing minimum of tedious verbosity. Actually, I think the O.P. is planning to spend an entire lifetime fulminating about English and how she is spoke, and perhaps has not moved on to Latin phrases and abbreviations yet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/71 "2005-05-20T17:59:05Z")
> [@Feydeau](#): > > And yes, I fully acknowledge that I’m being anal about this, but holy fuck it pisses me off. LOLOLOL!!!111one1 STFU n00b!!!1111 ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/72 "2005-05-20T18:09:36Z")
> [@Feydeau](#): > > But I’m a _nice_ anal-retentive asshole! All we have seen so far is that you are in fact anal retentive, petty, boorish, and belicose. Your niceness has yet to be established. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Feydeau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Feydeau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feydeau)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/73 "2005-05-20T18:11:57Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > _cough_ > > You mean either “etc” or “&c” or “&/c,” but not “&etc,” unless you’re saying “and and so forth.” Duly noted, thank you. And, of course, you are correct. (Just because I’m an A-RA doesn’t mean I don’t own up to my mistakes.) ---
**Author:** ![Feydeau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Feydeau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feydeau)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/74 "2005-05-20T18:15:39Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > All we have seen so far is that you are in fact anal retentive, petty, boorish, and belicose. > > Your niceness has yet to be established. :dubious: Bellicose? Perhaps. Boorish? > [@](#): > > a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking culture or refinement I argue that attention to one’s spelling (as well as attention to one’s personal hygiene) is certainly not a lack of refinement. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/75 "2005-05-20T18:15:58Z")
> [@Feydeau](#): > > Duly noted, thank you. > > And, of course, you are correct. > > (Just because I’m an A-RA doesn’t mean I don’t own up to my mistakes.) HARA (the H stands for Honest) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/76 "2005-05-20T18:17:38Z")
> [@Feydeau](#): > > Bellicose? Perhaps. > > Boorish? > > I argue that attention to one’s spelling (as well as attention to one’s personal hygiene) is certainly not a lack of refinement. But wondering into a new community and castigating its members about your pet peeve sure seems to indicate a lack of refinement. :wally ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/77 "2005-05-20T18:18:40Z")
> [@kimera](#): > > I know my spelling and grammar sucks… that’s the main reason I joined this message board, I’m trying to improve it. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Feel free to correct my grammer and spelling anyplace anywhere. > > I blame the education systems in our schools and our current testing systems. I shouldn’t have gotten the grades I did in school nor the scores on the ACT and SAT with such horrible english. Part of my problem is the way my brain functions, but I know I’m not hopeless and the best help is just people saying “That isn’t proper english!” I know my spelling and grammer **suck** … ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/78 "2005-05-20T18:18:49Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > But wondering into a new community and castigating its members about your pet peeve sure seems to indicate a lack of refinement. :wally WANDERING damn it WANDERING 😃 ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/79 "2005-05-20T18:21:06Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > I know my spelling and grammer **suck** … My spelling sucks. My grammer sucks. but My spelling and my grammer suck. Wierd…correct but wierd. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614/80 "2005-05-20T18:21:28Z")
> [@Celyn](#): > > "to not care " Split infinitives are okay these days. Actually, they’ve always been more grammar voodoo nonsense than anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-has-all-the-spelling-gone-long-time-passing/304614.md?page=5)