Xref: utzoo sci.lang:4501 comp.cog-eng:1104 sci.psychology:1846 Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!bbn!apple!versatc!mips!prls!philabs!ttidca!hollombe From: hollombe@ttidca.TTI.COM (The Polymath) Newsgroups: sci.lang,comp.cog-eng,sci.psychology Subject: Re: Spelling and Perceptual Mode (was: Effects of poor writing?) Message-ID: <4412@ttidca.TTI.COM> Date: 11 May 89 18:17:12 GMT References: <39131@bbn.COM> <1982@trantor.harris-atd.com> <187@intek01.UUCP> <8068@thorin.cs.unc.edu> Reply-To: hollombe@ttidcb.tti.com (The Polymath) Distribution: na Organization: The Cat Factory Lines: 39 In article <8068@thorin.cs.unc.edu> barkley@unc.cs.unc.edu (Matthew Barkley) writes: }In article <1982@trantor.harris-atd.com>, chuck@melmac.harris-atd.com (Chuck Musciano) writes: }> }> I know that when I see a misspelled word, it just "seems wrong". Have }> there been any studies on how people determine spelling? I would also find }> that interesting. }In article <187@intek01.UUCP>, mark@intek01.UUCP (Mark McWiggins) writes: }> Me too -- but then I'm primarily a visual person. We have a guy here }> who is primarily auditory (talks to himself, talks to the computer, etc.) }> who can hardly spell two words in a row, and incidentally has some of the }> ugliest handwriting I've ever seen. All very interesting, and I don't want to put a damper on this discussion. However, I'd like to get back to its root for a moment. This all began with a spelling flame at someone's posted article, as I recall. While the discussion of spelling vs. perception vs. "gut feelings" is relevant, the fact is 90% of the spelling errors on the net are the result of ignorance compounded by sheer laziness (boy, am I going to get it for _that_ one! (-:{ ). Someone who's posting to the net must have access to some kind of computer system -- usually Unix. Nearly all such systems, and certainly Unix, have some form of spelling checker program available. While these programs may not cover all the obscure technical terms used here and elsewhere (Unix's dictionary is pathetically thin), they still leave _no excuse_ for misspelling words like "separate", not to mention common typographical errors. Failure to use a spelling checker, particularly if you know you're a poor speller, is an insult to your audience. It says you don't think they're worth the trivial effort of a few keystrokes to clean up your act. -- The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, hollombe@ttidca.tti.com) Illegitimati Nil Citicorp(+)TTI Carborundum 3100 Ocean Park Blvd. (213) 452-9191, x2483 Santa Monica, CA 90405 {csun|philabs|psivax}!ttidca!hollombe