Accurracy or understanding?

I wonder how you have reacted (if at all) to the spelling error in the title of this post. Perhaps you let it go, thinking it a symptom of a bleary eyed Chris knocking out yet another post early on a Monday morning. On the other hand, you may be appalled.

This is one I feel really mixed about.

Barely a day goes by when I don’t see a post on Facebook pointing out a mis-spelling on a poster or document along with some kind of smug comment from the person sharing it. I’ve certainly posted things of that nature myself before now, recognising the value of maintaining consistency and high standards when writing.  Indeed, one of the few things I recall being particularly proud of at primary school was the high marks I got in spelling tests.

Yet, in just about every instance I’ve ever seen of a mis-spelling, the understanding of what’s been written hasn’t been compromised in any way.

And, isn’t any communication ultimately about creating understanding?

I’d say that, for example, vagueness and ambiguity are far worse “offences” than that of a misplaced letter within a particular word. The spelling error in the title above may well have rankled, but I’ll bet a pound to a penny that you understood it.

I’m kiurrius az too wot yor thawts ar on the toppik – y not coment and let mee no?