being able to spell = being intelligent

Ickle Magoo · 12-04-2010 10:20PM

CATLAUGHS wrote: »

i dont tink cos people take shortcuts in spellin means dere stupid just think we dont have time to write full words anymore. but i understand how it makes sum people mad. 4 example at work i'm always sendin emails wit txt lingo and always get calls r replys askin wat i meant. i think maybe d people dat cant understand txt lingo seems more stupid dan othe way round

It's not so much I can't understand txt spk, most use it on a phone, after all. It's more that on a forum I read the post out in my head & just hear Vicky Pollard speaking & it doesn't sound nice.

Columbia · 12-04-2010 10:24PM

I don't judge people too much on their spelling, and even I (PHD student in English) ignore capitals and apostrophes when I'm talking to close friends on IM. However, on a public forum like this, your spelling has a lot (almost everything) to do with how you present yourself. You wouldn't go outside with greasy hair and wearing a dirty shirt, and your spelling on an online forum like this is no different. In both cases you're presenting yourself to people you'll never meet (or meet again). In the outside world you become the object of someone's consciousness by them looking at you, hence most people try to dress well. On an internet forum such as this, you become the object of someone's consciousness by your words, hence most people try to type appropriately.

FlashGordon1969 · 12-04-2010 10:25PM

Being able to spell is not innate. A cursory read of a book "Why children can't read" will tell you this. Cant recall authors' name .We should all make efforts to spell correctly but it's a bit of a leap, to say its linked to intelligence. Good night.

12-04-2010 10:34PM

But what form of communication is Boards?...i would say its half way between an informal conversation and a light hearted email especially in After Hours...so maybe the need for strictly formal language isn't called for....

Most people know the difference between a formal email that is work related and chatting on Boards.

McChubbin · 12-04-2010 10:43PM

Just got the following review on one of my comics:

i liek hoe u drewe him in teh last panle
i'm a gonna raed dis 4rom now on, it looks liek gunna turn out awesome
man i'v relized how much i'v gotta improve mai drawrings :d
(p.s mahgramma=fail soz)

*shiver* Everytime someone replies or comments using "chat/txtspeak", I die a little more on the inside.

EDIt: I know I may come across as bitchy for pointing out the lack of spelling and grammar on a good review but in all honesty, I'd rather have no reviews than one that's barely legible.

bnt · 12-04-2010 11:12PM

I try to use correct spelling and grammar at all times, for the simple reason that it's good practice as well as good practise.

It's not something I could turn off if using a mobile or the Internet, even if I wanted to, which I don't. I think it came from all those years I spent reading, so I can understand how a genuine (i.e. medically-diagnosed) dyslexic has difficulty with spelling, since reading has been such a hassle all along.

In a business environment, you are judged on your ability to communicate effectively, and poor spelling etc. distracts the reader from the message you are trying to deliver. It's not fair, but the alternative is to be treated as a "special" case, someone for whom others must make allowances. I don't think I'd like that one bit, and if I was to offer a piece of advice, it would be to read as many good books as possible. Try to understand the difference made by punctuation in particular, such as where to put commas, and when to use colons of or semicolons. Wikipedia and reference.com are just a click away in the case of confusion.

Mr Benevolent · 12-04-2010 11:15PM

This thread is oxymoronic.

Snowie · 12-04-2010 11:45PM

melekalikimaka wrote: »

he told me he put it on... so i know from what he 'told' me, kinda the same way dyslexia is diagnosed, nothing concrete or scientific, but an assumption based on trust that one party isn't a liar. I just find it surprising that diagnoses is done in such a way, when apparently theres a scientific way to diagnose the condition

what ever you say mate ive gone to enough trouble to answer most your questions and to be hoenst. debating the ways of testing dyslexia sounds about as exciting as grating my nuts ona chease grater so maybe this is where I go yor mate is talking through there ass and you stfu cause its getting way to boring...

Herbal Deity · 12-04-2010 11:55PM

Actually, I know of several people who deliberately performed worse than their ability in tests evaluating their ability to spell, in order to get a spelling waiver for their Leaving Cert.

Nulty · 13-04-2010 12:00AM

I'm normally going to say yes to this but I'm more pernickety than even that today!

Being able to spell and caring about spelling are different things. Also having the opportunity to learn how to spell correctly is another thing again.

If I were to give you a quick answer, yes, in most cases those who cannot spell, I deem to be of lower intelligence but in many cases I'd be wrong.

For instance, according to Gardner there are over 9 valid and accepted types of intelligence. I'm not going to for one second suggest that any one type of intelligence is better than the other.

But, of the people I meet and the intelligence that I require them to have, if they can't spell they are normally of no use to me

Nulty · 13-04-2010 12:00AM

Herbal Deity wrote: »

Actually, I know of several people who deliberately performed worse than their ability in tests evaluating their ability to spell, in order to get a spelling waiver for their Leaving Cert.

What a bunch of monkeys

minidazzler · 13-04-2010 12:06AM

I do equate bad spelling, grammar and punctuation with a decided lack of intelligence TBH.

I know dyslexia is real and whatnot, I know it affects some people really badly.

I know there are a number of dyslexics on boards.

I also know some dyslexics take the time so that you would never know they are dyslexic, while a couple are just plain lazy.

There is one poster on here who has a disclaimer in their sig explaining they are dyslexic. I have never seen this poster have so much as a comma in the wrong place. Never mind say spell a word incorrectly.

Then there are some who have spellings that make me totally skip the post no matter what it says.

One person really works to not let it affect them, another uses it as an excuse to not work.

Penisland · 13-04-2010 12:16AM

mariaalice wrote: »

im on holidays at the moment

imputing a short poll with this because it’s something iv noticed lately

Wow I was not aware that someone so intelligent could be so naive.

As many previous posters have stated those with dyslexia will often find it difficult to spell correctly. Many posters to this forum will be using a Mac or even an I phone- Steve Jobs= Dyslexic. He is just one of many famous dyslexics including Einstein, Di Vinci, Alexander Graham Bell and Edison, all of whom have contributed in their various means to ensure that I am able to make this response to you. Being unable to spell means absolutely nothing!!!!

Furthermore if I was a petty person I would have corrected your poor grammar and punctuation.

Snowie · 13-04-2010 12:17AM

minidazzler wrote: »

I do equate bad spelling, grammar and punctuation with a decided lack of intelligence TBH.
.

what age are you 18 do you even no what your talking about?

oh wit no you live in the world of fight club wear where you ask people to hit you! Yes of course thats intelgent :rolleyes:...

Tigger · 13-04-2010 12:19AM

minidazzler wrote: »

I do equate bad spelling, grammar and punctuation with a decided lack of intelligence TBH.

I know dyslexia is real and whatnot, I know it affects some people really badly.

I know there are a number of dyslexics on boards.

I also know some dyslexics take the time so that you would never know they are dyslexic, while a couple are just plain lazy.

There is one poster on here who has a disclaimer in their sig explaining they are dyslexic. I have never seen this poster have so much as a comma in the wrong place. Never mind say spell a word incorrectly.

Then there are some who have spellings that make me totally skip the post no matter what it says.

One person really works to not let it affect them, another uses it as an excuse to not work.

mabey just mabey both try equally hard and one is affected more than the other

i think its a sign of ignorance to think people are inheriantly lazy

Tigger · 13-04-2010 12:20AM

Snow-Monkey wrote: »

what age are you 18 do you even no what your talking about?

oh wit no you live in the world of fight club wear where you ask people to hit you! Yes of course thats intelgent :rolleyes:...

how do you mean?
asks people to hit him? is it only the well spelt or can he ask those of me that mabey spell quite atrociously

minidazzler · 13-04-2010 12:33AM

Snow-Monkey wrote: »

what age are you 18 do you even no what your talking about?

oh wit no you live in the world of fight club wear where you ask people to hit you! Yes of course thats intelgent :rolleyes:...

Did you just read the first line of my post and ignore the rest?

The intelligent will work on it. The lazy will not, and therefore I refuse to refer to them as intelligent.

Ickle Magoo · 13-04-2010 12:38AM

minidazzler wrote: »

Did you just read the first line of my post and ignore the rest?

The intelligent will work on it. The lazy will not, and therefore I refuse to refer to them as intelligent.

So how do you know at what point you are reading a post from an intelligent person with literacy issues that is working on it and a lazy person that is not?

Giselle · 13-04-2010 12:43AM

minidazzler wrote: »

I do equate bad spelling, grammar and punctuation with a decided lack of intelligence TBH.

I know dyslexia is real and whatnot, I know it affects some people really badly.

I know there are a number of dyslexics on boards.

I also know some dyslexics take the time so that you would never know they are dyslexic, while a couple are just plain lazy.

There is one poster on here who has a disclaimer in their sig explaining they are dyslexic. I have never seen this poster have so much as a comma in the wrong place. Never mind say spell a word incorrectly.

Then there are some who have spellings that make me totally skip the post no matter what it says.

One person really works to not let it affect them, another uses it as an excuse to not work.

You know dyslexia is real and it effects people really badly, but you do equate bad spelling with a lack of intelligence?

There is a scale with dyslexia, and you can be anywhere on that scale in terms of how it affects you.

One person might not be too high up on the scale, and can 'work not to let it affect them' without too much effort, and another might be so profoundly affected they can't see the difference between legible and completely illegible. In spite of their best efforts.

Its not their fault.

But now on top of not being able to get on top of their dyslexia, they get to be judged as lacking in intelligence. And lazy too.

That'll really help.

Snowie · 13-04-2010 12:48AM

minidazzler wrote: »

Did you just read the first line of my post and ignore the rest?

The intelligent will work on it. The lazy will not, and therefore I refuse to refer to them as intelligent.

Its simple You dont know what your talking about! as two other have stated.

If you wanna learn about dyslexia feel free to use google insight your self then come back with an argument worthy of backing up your ignorence...

worded · 13-04-2010 01:30AM

A lot of technically minded people cant spell. They would be bright IMO but not with spelling.

yerayeah · 13-04-2010 01:56AM

No, simple as. I know a few very bright people who can't spell for shit...

nehpets10 · 13-04-2010 01:58AM

If I see someone spelling I see them as stupid at spelling. If you don't have dyslexia, there is no reason to **** up every word.

beks101 · 13-04-2010 02:02AM

Good spelling, grammar and punctuation indicates good linguistic intelligence, people who have a good command of the English language and its uses. In my experience it's people who are well-read that have meticulous spelling and can structure sentences in a more fluent way than those who aren't.

I'd also associate good spelling with a good level of social intelligence, as so much correspondence these days is via email, text, memo and the like. It's just plain stupid in a professional setting or if posting on a forum, writing in a blog, etc to not present yourself in a legible and coherent fashion. People judge you on it for the most part, I know I do.

Son Of A Vidic · 13-04-2010 02:24AM

How can anyone equate intelligence with spelling correctly? Some days I can spell in Sumerian, other days I can't spell my own name ffs.

Here's a definition of intelligence which was published in the Wall Street Journal 13/12/1994: from Mainstream Science on Intelligence 1994, a report by fifty-two researchers:
''A very general mental capability that, among other things, involves the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend complex ideas, learn quickly and learn from experience. It is not merely book learning, a narrow academic skill, or test-taking smarts. Rather, it reflects a broader and deeper capability for comprehending our surroundings — “catching on”, “making sense” of things, or “figuring out” what to do.''

That's a definition I like, so intelligence has nothing to do with spelling.

melekalikimaka · 13-04-2010 02:27AM

medicman2009 wrote: »

How can anyone equate intelligence with spelling correctly? Some days I can spell in Sumerian, other days I can't spell my own name ffs.

Here's a definition of intelligence which was published in the Wall Street Journal 13/12/1994: from Mainstream Science on Intelligence 1994, a report by fifty-two researchers:
''A very general mental capability that, among other things, involves the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend complex ideas, learn quickly and learn from experience. It is not merely book learning, a narrow academic skill, or test-taking smarts. Rather, it reflects a broader and deeper capability for comprehending our surroundings — “catching on”, “making sense” of things, or “figuring out” what to do.''

That's a definition I like, so intelligence has nothing to do with spelling.

learn quickly and learn from experience... except when it comes to spelling :rolleyes:

McChubbin · 13-04-2010 03:58AM

beks101 wrote: »

Good spelling, grammar and punctuation indicates good linguistic intelligence, people who have a good command of the English language and its uses. In my experience it's people who are well-read that have meticulous spelling and can structure sentences in a more fluent way than those who aren't.

I'd also associate good spelling with a good level of social intelligence, as so much correspondence these days is via email, text, memo and the like.
It's just plain stupid in a professional setting or if posting on a forum, writing in a blog, etc to not present yourself in a legible and coherent fashion. People judge you on it for the most part, I know I do.

Quoted for truth. It is far better to spend time typing coherently than to leave everyone scratching their heads in bewilderment whilst trying to translate a wall of txt/chat/l33tspk. On the subject of dyslexia, I've know dyslexics who make a conscious effort to type and correspond coherently and I also know the sort that couldn't be arsed.

At the thick of it, it's not so much that "proper spelling= intelligance" but rather the person's own personal agenda towards how they convey themselves over the internet.

docmol · 13-04-2010 04:39AM

I went to uni with a guy who was dyslexic, he couldn't spell to save his life. He got a Phd in astrophysics. Good spelling = inteligence, fail.:rolleyes:

stovelid · 13-04-2010 08:29AM

You should note that just telling people to use the spell-checker doesn't always work. It's often a useful tool for people with existing writing skills rather than a panacea. My spelling and writing is fine (if I say so myself), but I'm a shit typist (at speed) and I find the spell-check really useful for highlighting the various mangled words in the first draft of a long post.

That said, spell-check won't catch a word that is technically correct but not the correct one for that context. And I still occasionally try and use a word that doesn't even come up in my browser spell-checker.

orourkeda · 13-04-2010 10:02AM

I would consider not being able to spell as being stupid rather that being able to spell as being a display of intelligence

being able to spell = being intelligent

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