SUMMER LEARNING: Spelling, a Quick Guide

I was born in 1968, meaning when I was in junior high school (yes it was junior high school back then, not middle school),  computers were word processors with green characters and manual typewriters ruled the day. If you grew up at around the same time, you probably remember typing class, where we learned some useful things, like the how to use your pinky finger when you type. We also learned some terrible, life-altering things, such as double spacing after a period.

If you still do this in your emails or reports or other things you send to me to check-over before sending them up the food chain, I do empathize with you that this is what you were taught. And while you and I are busy empathizing, you should fully understand that you need to knock it off immediately. It’s a creative monstrosity, it’s an irresponsible added keystroke, it wastes space, it pollutes the page, and it makes dogs cry.

Some heroes are helping to change the world for the better. The good folks I’ve worked with at two companies over the last 15 years, don’t allow us double space after a period.

One thing I do know they had back in junior high school and high school were dictionaries and Expos Comp classes where they taught us how to use homophone properly and differentiate commonly misused words. Those of us not completing slam books or writing notes to pretty girls in class remember these lectures.

For those of you who were, there are a dozen or so words you need to stop misspelling or misusing…here’s my top ten.