With the widespread use of word processing programs that can check your spelling in real time and correct it, it begs the question, Do we need to know how to spell?
Personally I feel that this kind of reasoning is dangerous for a multitude of reasons. Being overly reliant on digital systems for something as basic as your spelling is just going to make your life harder when that technology isn’t available.
Knowing how to correctly spell a word isn’t just about being correct; it’s about having a complete understanding of what exactly you are trying to convey with your writing. Nearly every word you understand you can probably write down with a pencil.
Try thinking of a word you’re unable to spell correctly and write it down. Would you feel comfortable using that word in an email? Are you really going to use a word you’re unable to spell? Probably not.
Another thing to consider is autocorrect’s infamous track record of using the wrong word. I’m sure everyone that has ever used a computer or smartphone has had a text or Google search ruined due to “Auto-Cucumber.”
Your vocabulary has been growing ever since you were able to repeat words that you heard from those around you. Unless a word is repeated over and over in something you read or write, chances are you’ll never learn how to spell it correctly.
Lacking the ability to learn and understand new words can be a big problem if you have to take notes during a school project or in the workplace. Add bad grammar into the mix, and there’s a good chance that your classmates or co-workers will be unable to decipher what exactly you’re trying to say when you leave a note.
Even if they eventually do decrypt the message, that’s valuable time thats just been wasted due to your inability to properly express your thoughts in writing. There’s no shame in using a dictionary to learn the meaning and correct spelling of a word. That’s what it’s there for.
I’m sure nearly all of us at Kirkwood use some form of autocorrect on our phones every day. Whether it’s texting a friend or looking something up on a search engine, it’s clear that this technology is here to stay. Good luck finding an office anywhere that doesn’t have a computer capable of using some form of spellcheck.
I’m not saying you should be second guessing every single word you write, nor do I think automated spellchecking shouldn’t be used, but being able to have a true understanding of what you read and write comes from experience. That experience isn’t being gained when you simply click on the red squiggly line and choose whatever word your computer thinks it should be.
Categories: Opinion
