In their preschool years, of my boys’ favorite shows was a PBS educational cartoon called Super Why. The four main characters in the show, the “Super Readers,” are storybook characters with reading-based super-hero alter egos. One of the characters in the show is Princess Pea. Her super power is, essentially, being magically OCD about spelling. She LOVES TO SPELL, and she will tell you about it in each episode. At length. In song, of course.

Thanks to the inexhaustible patience and skill of their mama, with an assist from this magic cartoon princess, my boys got a jumpstart in spelling and reading. Watching that progression from asking about everything to being confident enough to figure it out on their own was, indeed, magical.

Almost as if someone really had cast a spell. Have you ever wondered about the connection between the two contexts for that same word?

Here’s the definition of “SPELL” in verb form:

The word’s etymology finds its roots in Old English and means, “to relate.” It includes a definite search for understanding and delving into meaning.

Here’s the definition of “SPELL” in noun form:

The word’s etymology finds its roots in Old English and Germanic and means, “to relate.” Spoken words are assumed to have magic power and understood to cause a state of enchantment or strong attraction.

So, taken together, this magical word describes the euphoria that accompanies a successful search for understanding. Thus, spelling, when properly executed, can be a tonic, a magic elixir for your readers.

Just the same, haphazard spelling can be a curse. How many times have you read something and grimaced at the speling errors? Have you wondered if the person checked his work or whether or not she really cared at all? Has your opinion of someone – excluding rappers and romantic poets – ever been raised after discovering egregious spelling errors? Have you ever been swayed by the power of a strong argument properly communicated?

This reflexive criticism goes both ways. Your readers’ opinion of you and the authority of your work will undoubtedly be influenced by your decision whether or not to skip the two-step spell check process.

Two step?

Yep. The Spell Check Two Step. This is the dance successful writers do shortly before depositing a paycheck. It’s an easy groove most successful writers can do well…and many starving writers haven’t quite mastered. The first step is to run everything you write through a spell checker.

Never, ever, simply tap something onto a page and send it off. Run your word processing spell checker and then read the work at least twice. That’s step one. Step two is necessary because of step one.

Once you have read and re-read your work a few times, your brain simply stops reading the words. Yes, you are processing them, but you are no longer actually reading them. Because of this, it can be difficult for any of us to catch all of our spelling errors. So, step two of your dance should be to have a trusted editor check your work BEFORE you send it in to the client who, you hope, will pay you for the job. Yes, editors expect to edit, but they much prefer work with a submission based primarily on content, not on spelling and grammar.

But what if there is no skilled editor available, or you cannot afford one? Then wait a day after you have finished your article and read it backwards. That’s right, Yoda. Backwards. You lose both context and meaning, rendering the words simply “words” again. This does not help with grammar, but it works in a pinch for spelling.

 

One final thought, posed as a two-part question:

There is, at least, one spelling error in this article. Did you find it?

When you have found it, please offer your thoughts as to, in what way, errors detract from the overall authoritative strength of this article. Then, consider those potential negatives when checking your work.

 

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rainbow Springs State Park

Rainbow Springs State Park

People have been returning to what is now Rainbow Springs State Park for 10,000 years. One trip and it’s easy to see why. You could put a picture of the park in the dictionary next to “idyllic” and no one could argue. To say this nearly 1500-acre natural...

Henderson Beach State Park

Henderson Beach State Park

Destin, Florida, on the northern end of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida’s Panhandle, is a haven for vacationers looking for exciting water sports and family fun. And, if you would rather slow it down and relax your days away, there is no better spot in...

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Homosassa Springs is a surprise. Although it is an official State Park, this land has been a tourist attraction for a century, and it feels more like a theme park than a place of relaxation. Though a day here is undoubtedly relaxing as well. In the early...

Horrific Tragedy in a Beautiful World

Horrific Tragedy in a Beautiful World

On Easter morning, while millions around the world gathered in worship and celebration, a handful of religious fanatics came together to murder Christians, to murder families enjoying a holiday vacation… to murder at least 45 children. The speculation as...

A Higher Call

A Higher Call

“A Higher Call” by Adam Makos is an honest, intense, and expertly crafted book. It is, without reservation, one of the best historical books I have ever read. An exceptionally detailed, exquisitely rich picture of life both during and after World War 2. It...

7,670 and counting

7,670 and counting

I was at the grocery buying an anniversary card, because that’s what you do when the Hallmark next door has vanished without a trace. The cashier snuck a peak at the card and her eyes went wide. “Happy Anniversary! How many years.”“Twenty-one.”“Wow. Uh … I...

Writer & Editor: The Perfect Team

Writer & Editor: The Perfect Team

I work with some terrific editors who understand the subtle difference between directing a writer and correcting their work. Both are important; and both are vital to a successful story. But the secret to that success lies in understanding when and where...

Research as a Creative Writing Prompt

Research as a Creative Writing Prompt

Research allows you to learn things you did not previously know. Duh. It also introduces you to new worlds, strange ecosystems and unfamiliar social networks. This new information has the potential to blast through your writer’s block like dynamite… if...

Vero Beach

Vero Beach

Vero Beach And Other Hidden Gems on the Treasure Coast   When vacationers, even many Florida natives, think about hitting the beach on the Atlantic coast, they head to Daytona, Cocoa, Lauderdale or Amelia Island. Florida’s Treasure Coast is treated as...