General Chat

Did you ever learn about elision and liason when you were at primary school? It taught us that "an" would be correct as in " an hotel" which became spoken as "An 'otel"? Therefore, although we commonly say "A unique" it would be correct to say "an".. However, the critics continue to tell us that English is a living language and we oldies have to accept these things. How about the usage of the word "regime" instead of the correct "regimen" so often used by journalists ( who used to be well educated)

Helen Davis in Australia

nice one Brian!!!!

It's the apostrophiy which bugs me - people have no idea how to use them and stick them in on plurals!!! potato's, letter's etc!!

Lol Brian !!

Get the spelling right.................bugger the grammar. Happy Holidays.

I agree that spelling and punctuation are still important, as the meaning can be distorted if they are incorrect.

Particularly so in legal documents.

I done and put the spell chequer on this an it's awl collect.

Jean,

sorry about that, I wasn't intentionally correcting you, it was an observation
actually I was agreeing with you.
in front of any of the other vowels that would apply
(I think!)

an (H) onest injun!!
Bob
x

Oh I am dreadful for spotting spelling errors and will try hard to get things right when I write lol It really bugs me when I see mistakes, and I used to work on my son's spelling when he was young. He isn't too bad now at 28. My o.h. and his sons are bad at spelling, I think it's a lot to do with how much you read and o.h. is not one for reading much, no books or even bookshelves in this house. Mine are stacked everywhere, and he gets so mad but I had never been in a house without bookshelves and books before and find it hard to get rid of books I have read.

One word I am always dubious about tho is weird, and often have to check it when I use the word. I used to struggle with separate too but now remember a rat in the middle to make sure I get it right.

I think it's a shame more importance isn't placed on correct spelling in school but my son's teachers in the 80s said content in an essay etc was more important than correct spelling.

Oh well, sign of the times I suppose. I still send a message to any reporter who mis spells words in newspaper articles in our local paper, which I read on line and their editor has asked me to continue to do it and let him know too so maybe some people still value getting it right.

Lizx

Interesting subject :)

I feel that correct spelling and grammar is very important.

My spelling is usually up to the mark, but I always get permanent wrong.lol
Don't know if I have it corrrect this time because there is no spell check on GR on this laptop (it's hubby's and I don't want to fiddle around with the settings )

My children's spelling and written grammar is good, (24 and 22) but they do use a lot of spoken slang words and of course the text ,messages,what can I say!

I try to always check my spelling before I post ( halo slipping down my neck now..lol )
Loads don't I know...I just think it's lazy myself :(

Each to their own !!

Sandie.

Spelling is important, I feel, or you get the wrong meaning often. This was just something that didnt sound right to me.But then you get words that sound the same but the meaning is only clear if the spelling is correct, Like peace and piece. Fascinating when you get involved in the subject,

Some 50 years ago, when I was learning Shorthand and Typing, we were penalised for bad spelling. You might have had the neatest piece of shorthand to hand in to be marked, and also the neatest cleanest presentation of the transposed typing, but if any word was spelled incorrectly, you had marks knocked off. This made sure you learned to spell correctly. Prior to this, in school, we had spelling tests
Nowadays, I do not thing they pay as much attention to correct spelling in schools. Shame really.
Julia in Derbyshire

Apparently schools no longer teach i before e except after c.
Learn't this while watching an episode of QI.

Cath xx

English is an inconsistent. language, i agree.
Seem to remember from school (long days ago) that i before e except after c with some exceptions was how it was put to us.|!!

I see your point, Bobtonian. I stand corrected.

Interesting, but phonetically

Unique is said

yoonique

would you also say

" going to an university?"
""he was wearing an uniform of......a soldier...???.""
whereas......
an ""underground" station
has a different ring to it?

no?

An advert has just come up for a games channel on my computer. Now the wording runs, Gain an unique crown. I would say ___A unique crown. Which do you think? Just doesnt sound right when you say it to me.