How do you spell words correctly?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges of spelling words correctly, including how individuals learn to spell, the influence of language structure, and the cognitive processes involved in recognizing and recalling spellings. Participants explore various aspects of spelling in English and other languages, touching on personal experiences and observations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that recognizing words is a learning ability, with comparisons made to the human ability to recognize faces.
  • Others express frustration with the irregularities of English spelling, proposing alternative spellings for words based on phonetics.
  • A participant notes that spelling can be approached through learned rules and visual exposure to written words.
  • There are claims about the ability to spell unfamiliar words based on patterns and contextual clues, likening it to problem-solving skills in mathematics.
  • Several posts highlight the phenomenon of recognizing misspelled words when the first and last letters are in the correct places.
  • Some participants engage in playful banter about spelling and language, including historical references to spelling conventions.
  • Discussions about the evolution of spelling and its standardization are also present, with references to Middle English and etymology.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion features multiple competing views on how spelling is learned and the nature of language itself. There is no consensus on the best methods for remembering spellings or the inherent logic of English spelling.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the effectiveness of various spelling strategies and acknowledge the complexity of language learning. Some statements reflect personal experiences rather than established linguistic principles.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in linguistics, language learning, cognitive psychology, and those who struggle with spelling may find the insights shared in this discussion relevant.

  • #31
Evo said:
Gesundheit.

avoid

ETYMOLOGY: Middle English avoiden, from Anglo-Norman avoider, to empty out, variant of Old French esvuidier : es-, out (from Latin ex-; see ex–) + vuidier, to empty (from voide, empty; see void).

http://www.bartleby.com/61/96/A0549600.html

Void, that is what my doctor ask me if I was having a problem doing.:smile:
 
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  • #32
arildno said:
Ralley, peens?
I'm not so craiten.
Yes, ralely. But you hvae to mkae srue you use the rgiht ltetres and taht the frist and lsat lrtetes are in the rgiht palces.

-Ptaty

(you lsot me on "pnees." what did you maen by taht?)
 
  • #33
pattylou said:
(you lsot me on "pnees." what did you maen by taht?)
Oh, you'll be sorry you asked... :-p
 
  • #34
pattylou said:
Yes, ralely. But you hvae to mkae srue you use the rgiht ltetres and taht the frist and lsat lrtetes are in the rgiht palces.

-Ptaty

(you lsot me on "pnees." what did you maen by taht?)
I just thought that "ralley, peens" had such a melodic ring to it.
Nothing else, whatever Evo might think.
 
  • #35
lol. I did not even notice you guys had done that again, I thought you were all posting gibberish. pnees is penes, arildno's word for the plural of penis.

ralely, I thought that was some crazy word at first, so no, that switcheroo does not always work :smile:
 
  • #36
mattmns said:
lol. I did not even notice you guys had done that again, I thought you were all posting gibberish. pnees is penes, arildno's word for the plural of penis.

ralely, I thought that was some crazy word at first, so no, that switcheroo does not always work :smile:
WHAT??
That was not my intention. I swear it, the phrase just sounded so good..
And besides, it isn't my word, it is the world's correct plural term.
 
  • #37
Give it up arildno, you've been caught pening again.
 
  • #38
wolram said:
acquired :smile: :smile: :smile: have a c

moonbear, and i thought i was i bad.

Please don't hit my button.

I can spell just fine...I never made any claims regarding typos! :biggrin: I can't even blame my sticky L key for that one (you might notice some L's are getting left out of my words lately...my L key has been getting very sticky lately and is driving me nuts).
 
  • #39
Moonbear said:
I can spell just fine...I never made any claims regarding typos! :biggrin: I can't even blame my sticky L key for that one (you might notice some L's are getting left out of my words lately...my L key has been getting very sticky lately and is driving me nuts).
You shouldn't eat stinky cheese and drink mouldy wine while using your computer.
It doesn't like either. Your computer, that is. The wine and cheese, for the sake of clarification.
 
  • #40
arildno said:
You shouldn't eat stinky cheese and drink mouldy wine while using your computer.
It doesn't like either. Your computer, that is. The wine and cheese, for the sake of clarification.
Actually, I think pasta sauce is to blame. I was eating ravioli a couple weeks ago and one escaped from the fork and splattered sauce everywhere, including on my keyboard. It's been sticky ever since. At least I don't spit coffee on my keyboard. :biggrin: :smile:
 
  • #41
Moonbear said:
Actually, I think pasta sauce is to blame. I was eating ravioli a couple weeks ago and one escaped from the fork and splattered sauce everywhere, including on my keyboard. It's been sticky ever since. At least I don't spit coffee on my keyboard. :biggrin: :smile:
What about pickle juice?
 
  • #42
arildno said:
What about pickle juice?
No, I haven't had any pickles recently. :frown: I'm really craving pickles too. I need to find a good supplier of pickles.
 
  • #43
Moonbear said:
No, I haven't had any pickles recently. :frown: I'm really craving pickles too. I need to find a good supplier of pickles.
I have more than I can handle at the moment.


That reminds me. Runs down and..
 
  • #44
arildno said:
What about pickle juice?
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: That is bad, even for your Arildno lol!
 
  • #45
Arildno & I were recently discussing how difficult it is to find a really good pickle. When I was little, the best pickles were at the little league ballpark my brother played at. Now I can find some similar at deli's, those BIG pickles in the barrels, but the quality is inconsistent.

Oh, for keyboards, coffee with creamer is baaaad. Don't get any sesame seeds under your keys either.
 
  • #46
Yup, it was a good pickle. Yummy!
 
  • #47
Evo said:
Arildno & I were recently discussing how difficult it is to find a really good pickle. When I was little, the best pickles were at the little league ballpark my brother played at. Now I can find some similar at deli's, those BIG pickles in the barrels, but the quality is inconsistent.

Oh, for keyboards, coffee with creamer is baaaad. Don't get any sesame seeds under your keys either.
Or ash. Ash should not enter the keyboard.
 
  • #48
Evo said:
Arildno & I were recently discussing how difficult it is to find a really good pickle. When I was little, the best pickles were at the little league ballpark my brother played at. Now I can find some similar at deli's, those BIG pickles in the barrels, but the quality is inconsistent.
Wow, I really didn't know much of anything about pickles when I was little. I thought they were kind of gross back then and had no interest at all. I think it's an acquired taste.
 
  • #49
arildno said:
Or ash. Ash should not enter the keyboard.
:confused: What nonsense is that? nothing solid should enter the keyboard. Ever.
 

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