Is it really important to spell correctly?

There has been a lot of discussion here on the FFN about spelling and grammar usage. Having been off from work for the past four months, I came across this memo from one of our investigators and thought I'd ask you if your department has the same level of awareness to be grammatically vigilant.

The investigator offers one suggestion for spell checking while writing reports, this could also affect your pc's ability to underline misspelled words when posting on FFN. I wanted to note that if you are using MacBook Pro, place your cursor over the red-underlined (actually red dots) and press ctrl, a window pops up and offers suggestions for correct spelling.

I hope this is one of those "helpful posts". TCSS, Mike from Santa Barbara

"I have recently assumed responsibility for providing reports to Insurance Companies, Law Firms, and other subjects requesting your reports. Many reports, primarily in the "narrative" section, contain significant spelling and/or grammar errors. One method to improve the reports is to use lower case text, which will enable the spell checker resource. When you enter all "CAPS" spell checker ignores the errors. I plan to provide further information regarding reports and other investigation issues in the near future, but did not want to delay notification to those who may benefit from this simple resource.

I certainly hope this message is written correctly; if not, please disregard the information above."

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Permalink Reply by Tony P on March 13, 2009 at 4:31am

You have spell checking in FFN? I've never seen it! Mind you, if it was English(US) I'd have to switch it off anyway...

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Permalink Reply by Got One on March 13, 2009 at 5:26am

People who fuss about my missuse of grammer and my lack of skills in the spelling department really need to find a hobby. Some pin-head created spell check that gives my 32 variations on how to spell "is" and no help when it comes to the real humdingers. Proper grammer/ spelling makes you look more profesional and all but, I am from the South U.S.A.. That means I should be forgiven for my lack of wordin'!

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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on March 13, 2009 at 11:26am

http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/is-it-complacency-o...
Unfortunately, complacency is everywhere.
Our language skills and writing skills that leads to our communications skills have become casualties of uninterested and uncaring types who can only take their information in short bursts to match their attention spans. They do not want to read novels or go to plays or read/write poetry. They don't want world news; they want entertainment news. They want it simple and uncomplicated.
Their mantra is "what's the big deal"?
Eloquence is a rarity.
Expanded vocabularies are shrinking.
Life as we know it will cease to exist.
And libraries will be our sanctuaries.
I blame Larry the Cable Guy!
TCSS.
Art

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Permalink Reply by Tony P on March 13, 2009 at 6:00pm

Caleb, does that mean your 'guitar is ready'?

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Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on March 13, 2009 at 6:12pm

I can't spell for sh*t LOL

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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on March 13, 2009 at 6:40pm

I tcertainly shows both professionalism and respect if you can spell correctly on your reports....Think about it...these are official and legal documents...how is someone going to take you seriously and respect your ability to conduct investigations and testify in court if you cannot spell...? Just my point of view...Paul "huk'd un funiks wurx fur me" (sorry couldn't resist)

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Permalink Reply by rfdjumper on March 13, 2009 at 6:46pm

"Spellin be impotent"
Nuff sade.

Seriously, spelling is very important in today's litigation happy society. Take care. Remember your friend Google if in doubt.

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Permalink Reply by Guerrerita on March 13, 2009 at 8:20pm

Ok, folks. As a writer, I could not withhold comment on this discussion any longer. Since the use of proper grammar and spelling is, apparently, important to so many of us (not just geeks such as myself!) , I offer you a grammatically corrected version of the above comment. I hope this is taken in the spirit of a 'helpful post,' which is the spirit in which it was written!

I think, when good grammar and spelling are called for, the report should be written by someone who possesses grammatical skill. For instance, while I may help someone write correctly, I will certainly seek the help of someone with better arithmetical skill to prepare my taxes! I don't even go near projects that require "assembly;" I cannot correctly replace the seat on a bicycle. Everyone has his own strengths and weaknesses!

FOR THOSE WHO REALLY CARE, I offer the following grammatically corrected comment.

Well, you're the one who [people are referred to as 'who,' not 'that,' or 'which'] is going to be on the stand while a lawyer tears apart your report [A preposition cannot be used at the end of a sentence]. So, [Extra information (that which could be plucked from the sentence without significantly altering its meaning) is set off by a comma.] if you want to look like [like is not a conjunction, and cannot properly be used as such; the use of 'as if' is required. (Fowler put "Like as conjunction" first in his list of Illiteracies. He defined "illiteracy" as "offence against the
literary idiom.")] you don't know how to write or spell, then [Than is used after a comparative adjective or adverb to introduce the second element or clause of an unequal comparison, whereas then is used as a description of time and consequence.] I guess it is not a problem. However, [A sentence cannot begin with a conjunction, hence 'but' must be replaced with however, or therefore. The comma after however is necessary because however is extra information], in my department, Parenthetical commas should be used to enclose interruptions that are single words (such as however) or phrases (such as 'in my department')]. our bosses expect us to write legible reports with [written with]proper spelling and grammar. The reason behind this is simple; [Two independent clauses must be separated by a semi-colon, not a comma. Alternately, two independent clauses can be divided by a period, making two sentences. A semi-colon is preferable, however, when the two clauses are very closely related.] when a report goes to court, [The use of a parenthetical comma is necessary to enclose this phrase.] it represents the department. [A period is necessary to divide two independent clauses that do not contain a transitioning conjunction.] The bosses don't want it to appear as if we have a group of 'dumbasses' working here, even though that may be the case.[A complete sentence must have both subject and predicate, else it is a clause, and cannot stand alone.]

Michael, I applaud you and anyone who cares about the proper use of language. Additionally, I can say with 100% certainty that you can probably replace a bicycle seat in under six hours. That's how long it took me to figure it out; there were only three parts! :)

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Permalink Reply by Guerrerita on March 13, 2009 at 8:29pm

Note the inconsistencies in the use of quotation marks, boldface type and italices, in my own comment. Important documents should be proofread for typeface errors, as well as spelling and grammatical ones, in my humble opinion. I'm sure I could pick out errors all day long here. However, since I do that at work, I'm calling it a night. I pass the baton.

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Permalink Reply by Tony P on March 14, 2009 at 12:12am

Thanks Caleb.

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Permalink Reply by EngineLadder on March 14, 2009 at 2:26pm

Spelling not that important having the balls to run into a burning building and do you job more importand ( and alot of people dont have the balls anymore)