Spelling Woes to Report

If I am going to be serious about writing a blog there is just one thing that I need to get out into the open right now: I can’t spell. Re-read my blog entry from yesterday and you will find the Spirit spell Spirt, tirade spelled titrade, just to name a few (if you find more, feel free to laugh and make a comment).

The thing is that I try hard to spell well. I really do. And I don’t think I would have made A’s and B’s throughout my educational career if I was lacking in ability.

So, I know you may be asking yourself, how could someone like you with a college degree and almost a master’s from Duke get this far in life and not be able to spell? Isn’t spelling just one of those things that comes with academic success? Actually these are the questions I frequently ask myself too. What is wrong with me, I wonder?

Well, for starters, I think I just didn’t pay attention to phonics in 1st grade. When my teacher in first grade (sad, I can’t remember her name) made us do those “sound-out the word” worksheets I was more interested in coloring the pictures rather than learning the concepts. And, when we had spelling tests, I just memorized the word lists. I usually made 100s… well, this was until the letter order of words got harder to memorize in about 4th or 5th grade (my true self was seen then).

In addition, I’ve always had an independent streak in me so I only pay attention when I have to. While I do like know plans and particulars, I am a global thinker who doesn’t stress about small facts or details (like being exactly at the airport an hour before a flight or getting up in morning with enough time to get ready before leaving the house—I’d rather enjoy the adventure of rushing). So, I think spelling just fits into this category. There just isn’t something in my psyche that makes me care about spelling. It seems unimportant compared to the concepts in which I am writing about.

But, I am forced to care when I REALLY want share my ideas with others in writing in some form or the other. My apathy could just continue as it is if I hated writing. The problem is that I love writing and want people like you to actually understand me, but…

I still get into trouble. For example, last week I was working on my resume. I knew I probably would have some minor mistakes but didn’t think I made any gross errors since I spell checked the document. Well, my first proofreader, John, made the following first comment, “Elizabeth, you need to work on your spelling. How could you repent a Duke scholarship?”

I nervously laughed it off, realizing I meant to say I was a recipient of a Duke scholarship. Now while “repentant” sounds religious and all, it wasn’t any where in the ball park of what I was trying to say—I was horrified and reminded once again that spelling is important, especially if I want to be considered for a job next year. I was sent back to the drawing board asking several of my trusted friends to proofread it AGAIN.

So, the question remains, will I ever get the point that good spelling really is an important life skill and start paying attention to it?

Well, maybe. After my junior year of high school, I got so tired of the jokes, so I enrolled myself in a class I called “Spelling 101.” I bought two “Teach Yourself How to Spell” books and tried to be diligent. But, I didn’t get very far because at heart, I just don’t care that much. You see, there is so much of the world to see, people to talk to and experiences to have. So, I just couldn’t bury myself that summer in spelling books.

I believe I just need a good editor. Any takers???