I get to kick back and let someone else speak on my behalf. So without much ado the very cool Lady B, a champion speller, weighs in on correctness:
Sit down for a spell
I put a spell on you
Tori Spelling
As you can see, dear Alice, spelling is slightly suspect and not all it's cracked up to be.
Speaking as a compulsive speller and by the powers vested in me (Globe-Democrat Spelling Bee School Champ, 1959-60 Mark Twain School) I hearby relieve you of all guilt, trauma, and future frustration regarding the written word and the spellings thereof.
For those who write, spelling may be something akin to a minor, though chronic illness. Possibly genetic in origin it may be treated and kept under relative control should the host organism suffer unduly.
For those who write well the creative mind must take the lead and not be held back by
the petty parasites of grammar.
Think of spelling as a pesky case of athlete's foot, a minor irritant that takes place at the opposite end from the creative process.
The brilliant surgeon is brought in to do the hard stuff, the creative work. Then he walks away and leaves it to the flunkies to sew up, close up, count the sponges and do the dishes.
There will always be a flunky to clean up. And, let me tell you, the flunky, who knows spelling and grammar and just what the heck a semicolon does, works in a office the size of my desk drawer and eats lunch out of bag. He is on no ones speed dial and will never sip champagne from a ladys slipper.
In fact, sometimes proper spelling, etc. takes all the taste away from the meal. Sit down with the journals of Lewis and Clark, as written. This guy couldn't spell his own name the same way twice! But where those ill-spelled words take you!
Which do you prefer:
Dinner at Eight
Dinner at Ate
I thought so
I put a spell on you
Tori Spelling
As you can see, dear Alice, spelling is slightly suspect and not all it's cracked up to be.
Speaking as a compulsive speller and by the powers vested in me (Globe-Democrat Spelling Bee School Champ, 1959-60 Mark Twain School) I hearby relieve you of all guilt, trauma, and future frustration regarding the written word and the spellings thereof.
For those who write, spelling may be something akin to a minor, though chronic illness. Possibly genetic in origin it may be treated and kept under relative control should the host organism suffer unduly.
For those who write well the creative mind must take the lead and not be held back by
the petty parasites of grammar.
Think of spelling as a pesky case of athlete's foot, a minor irritant that takes place at the opposite end from the creative process.
The brilliant surgeon is brought in to do the hard stuff, the creative work. Then he walks away and leaves it to the flunkies to sew up, close up, count the sponges and do the dishes.
There will always be a flunky to clean up. And, let me tell you, the flunky, who knows spelling and grammar and just what the heck a semicolon does, works in a office the size of my desk drawer and eats lunch out of bag. He is on no ones speed dial and will never sip champagne from a ladys slipper.
In fact, sometimes proper spelling, etc. takes all the taste away from the meal. Sit down with the journals of Lewis and Clark, as written. This guy couldn't spell his own name the same way twice! But where those ill-spelled words take you!
Which do you prefer:
Dinner at Eight
Dinner at Ate
I thought so
2 comments:
Who is this person who has corrected your spelling? And how dare they???
Legions of friends, family, teachers, co-workers, and the random person on the street, I truly am a horrid speller.
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