It's elementary, and a mis-spelled challenge title just says a lot about sloppiness. I'm not marking down challenge entries for the photog's carelessness, but I do wish that people who'd taken the time to take a shot, do a nice edit on the image, upload it, etc, also take the extra second to check that the words in the titles are properly spelled. Just a rant. Sorry.
For a LOT of our members English is a second language, and their errors are completely understandable. I don't really care about misspelled titles for that reason.
It's elementary, and a mis-spelled challenge title just says a lot about sloppiness. I'm not marking down challenge entries for the photog's carelessness, but I do wish that people who'd taken the time to take a shot, do a nice edit on the image, upload it, etc, also take the extra second to check that the words in the titles are properly spelled. Just a rant. Sorry.
Don't forget that English is not the first language for many of our users. Even one of our Site Council members is from Iceland, as are dozens of our users. We have users from dozens of other non-Eglish-speaking countries as well.
Their spelling in English is much better than my spelling in any of their native languages, so I generally cut people a bit of slack for spelling when voting.
The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt! But, I do the best I can.
The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt! But, I do the best I can.
It's elementary, and a mis-spelled challenge title just says a lot about sloppiness. I'm not marking down challenge entries for the photog's carelessness, but I do wish that people who'd taken the time to take a shot, do a nice edit on the image, upload it, etc, also take the extra second to check that the words in the titles are properly spelled. Just a rant. Sorry.
Don't forget that English is not the first language for many of our users. Even one of our Site Council members is from Iceland, as are dozens of our users. We have users from dozens of other non-Eglish-speaking countries as well.
Their spelling in English is much better than my spelling in any of their native languages, so I generally cut people a bit of slack for spelling when voting.
-Terry
English is MY third language, so no, I'm not forgetting. I just think it's easy enough these days to use an English spellchecker.
PS As I said on the original post, spelling skills is not a voting criteria for me.
I can understand grammar mistakes, but there are spellcheckers for people who don't have English as their mother tongue. It's all about attention to detail... I don't like it when people can't be bothered to present their photo properly. It's all part of the same package. If I was presenting my photo in a different country, I'd make sure I used a spellchecker. How long does that take?
The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt! But, I do the best I can.
this is how you always type! :P
I like to think of it as.... creative schpelling.... That's my story..., and i'm sticking to it.
[rant]
I am extremely particular (i.e. anal) about spelling. I cannot stand to see errors on signs outside of businesses and restaurants. I refuse to eat anywhere that has a sign with an obvious spelling error on their marquees. I've also been known to go in and ask for the manager before, just to let them know what I think. There really is no excuse. Dictionaries, either the old-fashioned kind or the online kind, are inexpensive or free, and it only takes a moment to check your spelling.
I preach to my own children every day about the importance of good spelling skills. When someone reads something you have written, you will be judged by the correctness of your spelling and your use of grammar. It's a given. It happens subconsciously, whether we admit it or not. You run the risk of being perceived as uneducated, or at the least, poorly educated, if you cannot spell.
In this day and age of chat, text messaging, and geek speak, basic literacy is falling apart. I cringe every time I see a phrase like "c u l8r." It will only get worse, as the kids who spell this way now become the parents of the next generation. I shudder to think that my social security and pension plans will be managed by someone who spells that way.
I know I'm probably going to be seen as completely insane for my opinion, but after teaching kids for almost 10 years, I see the direction literacy is going and it really does worry me.
P.S. I know this is an international site, but there is a certain level of expectation that the predominant language of the site is English. If I were posting to a site where the predominant language was Spanish, or German, or Dutch, I would seek out assistance to make sure my title that I post is spelled and phrased correctly in that particular language.
I don't like it when people can't be bothered to present their photo properly. It's all part of the same package.
There are things like human errors that get in the way of perfection.
These shots aren't going in a National Magazine or on a Billboard. It's an informal toss 'em in the mix competition amongst our peers.
Maybe having raised kids, you learn not to nitpick them to death, and is the same attitude I take about things like a spelling error in a title.
[rant]
I am extremely particular (i.e. anal) about spelling. I cannot stand to see errors on signs outside of businesses and restaurants. I refuse to eat anywhere that has a sign with an obvious spelling error on their marquis. I've also been known to go in and ask for the manager before, just to let them know what I think. There really is no excuse. Dictionaries, either the old-fashioned kind or the online kind, are inexpensive or free, and it only takes a moment to check your spelling.
Should I or shouldn't I... hmmm... should I or - oh heck. I'll just get jumped on for it anyway.
OK. Here goes. (Don't hate me Laurie!!)
If I saw a sign that had spelling errors on their marquis, I'd report them for cruelty to minor British nobility!! I think the word you're looking for there is 'marquees'.
(Don't hate me!!)
:-D
Sara
*edit - dangit! now I'm misspelling stuff! 'owrd' indeed!
