Spelling

wolram

You note a word for the first time, how do you know how to spell it correctly?
and how do you remember all the correct spellings of words ?

mattmns

Dictionary. Also, after taking that spelling test, I obviously have no idea about how to remember to spell words correct

Andre

That's a good question, especially when having to spell in several languages. There is a phenomenon about recognising words which must be a learning ability since we only seem to write a few thousand years. This could be unlike another incredible human ability, recognising a million faces and still adding new faces to the database on a daily basis.

Or is writing a heritaged skill that we have been doing for ten thousands of years?

http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedFo...0/quo_pooh.htm

wolram

Well for an instance, Once is sounded Wonce, and there are so many words
that sound the same, such as fair, there etc, the english language is stupid.
colour should be kulor.

wolram

Andre

So why not spell "fish" like "ghoces"

gh as in laugh
o as in women
ces as in worcester

pattylou

There are rules that we are taught.

For example:

The non-word "fiturate" looks more reasonably spelled than a possible alternative spelling of this non-word, "fichuraight."

Partly because we are taught certain rules (i before e except after c) and partly due to visual exposure to so many written words.

Moonbear

I have never been able to explain how it is that I can spell a word I've never seen in writing before. There just seem to be basic patterns, that even more irregularly spelled words fit a pattern...something about the meaning or the rest of the word tells me that a ph might be used instead of an f.

I guess for people who can spell well, it's similar to someone who is very good at solving math problems...sometimes reaching the solution requires recognizing some patterns and having a good armamentarium of tips and tricks you've aquired through solving many other problems. Just as a math student will not be able to solve a novel problem if they have only memorized the solutions to the problems they have already seen and not learned problem solving skills, one cannot just approach spelling as memorization of known words if you need to spell words you may not have seen written before. In a way, it still is a problem solving skill, though not in the sense most people think of problem solving.

pattylou

Anohter itnreertsing pehonemnon is taht rcegozinig waht the wrod is spuopesd to be is not hrad wehn the frsit and lsat ltetres are in the croerct palecs.

Danger

?.........

wolram

Thats cool Pattylou.

mattmns

I am not sure if that is good enough to get a warning Danger

arildno

Ralley, peens?
I'm not so craiten.

wolram

acquired have a c

moonbear, and i thought i was i bad.

Please don't hit my button.

arildno

Now, even the loftiest may occasionally plummet, don't masticate them just because you get the chance to do so once in a century.

Danger

Alluding to her age that way might earn a warning.

arildno

Insinuating she has made spelling mistakes prior in her life might get you banned..