Literacy news
Over-reliance on spellcheckers is undermining spelling skills
22 May 2012
A study by Mencap has revealed that around a third of adults are unable to accurately spell words such as 'definitely' and 'separate'. The survey found that just 69% picked out the correct spelling of 'definitely', with more than a quarter substituting the second 'i' for an 'a'. A similar proportion struggled with 'separate', with the most common wrong spelling being 'seperate'. The results also showed that teenagers and those in their early twenties were the worst spellers.
Mark Goldring, chief executive of Mencap, the charity for people with learning disabilities, said that poor spelling risked hindering school leavers’ job prospects.
With over two-thirds of Britons now having to rely on spell check, we are heading towards an auto-correct generation. Today's tough economic climate means that poor spelling on a CV is fatal, as it says that an individual cannot produce work to a given standard, no matter how highly qualified they might be.
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