Why would it, as long as you can get the point across?
I’m pretty sure
everyone has tried reading that paragraph where the first and last letter to a
word is in the right order and the rest are all mixed up, yet the message still
makes complete sense. If not, you can read the following paragraph:
“i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I
was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch
at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod
are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghi
t pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a
pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef,
but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was
ipmorantt!”
So this raises the question, does spelling and grammar
really matter? The answer to that question is a big fat YES! Proper spelling
and use of grammar is necessary in order to exemplify an idea. The slightest
mistake can change a sentences meaning entirely. For example, IKEA posted a
sign in their store about how their store “has everything, even deserts!” All
you have to do is go to the restaurant area; then you can get yourself a nice
cactus. Another great example, a few days ago on facebook one of my little
brother’s friends put up their status reading, “It’s Mourning time!!! J” Now of course I’d be slightly confused considering people
are not normally that excited when it comes to a time of mourning. Grammar is
another issue of importance. It can also change the sentences meaning. Everyone
knows the classic example of “Woman without her man is nothing” and then you
fill in the punctuation. The men write “woman, without her man, is nothing”,
and the women all write “woman: without her, man is nothing”. Those are two different
meanings and two different perspectives. But what if I said, those are too
different meanings and too different perspectives?
Or what if your boss left you a note that said:
- You will be required to work twenty four-hour shifts.
- You will be required to work twenty-four hour shifts.
- You will be required to work twenty-four-hour shifts.
What would you do? Personally, I’d quit because I’m not
about to work below someone that ignorant to the laws of grammar.
Spelling and Grammar can certainly
change things if used incorrectly. So to answer the original question, yes
spelling and grammar matter. Not only can it change what you mean to say, but
you look dumb too. Not to mention all your crazy English major friends are
going to correct you, and we get annoyed with that easily.
So I leave you with
these questions. Why don’t they still teach spelling and grammar in school? Is
it due to the technology of our generation with such things as spell check and
T9 Word? Does short hand texting have anything to do with this issue?
Check my grammar, I dare you! (I really hope it’s right haha)
