spelling related

[guishagirly]

I cant spell. Its getting worse to the point of embarrassing.

The other day I filled out a form for my DS school I put femail instead of female. My DS pointed out my mistake (mortified) I think I have always spelt it that way. Do I have dyslexia?

[WooWooOwl]

You can't expect people to diagnose dyslexia on the basis that you are a bit crap at spelling, it's a very complicated thing that is about far more than an ability to read easily and spell properly.

Reading a lot helps spelling, as does using a computer with spell check.

[WorraLiberty]

Blimey, there's no point in asking for an internet diagnosis.

How would anyone here know?

We all have words we find hard to spell and we all have a mind blank now and then.

Personally I'm quite good at spelling but when filling in a form by hand, I still expect to see a red squiggly line under difficult words

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Do you read....My DH never reads a book and his spelling and grammar is awful.

[guishagirly]

I was hoping for more info on dyslexia symptoms etc. I was taught the ITA way to read and write as a child. I think this had a detrimental effect on my spelling as it was a totally different alphabet and spelling was different too. I dont think this is the only problem though.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Well, personally I woudn't say that spelling FEMAIL rather than FEMALE (your only example) would be typical of dyslexia - and I think Female has always been spelt the same way.

We need more though but I reckon you are just bad at spelling .

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

This website is great: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/

They have a helpline too, and they're not scary - you could ring them up and get them to talk through it with you if you prefer it to reading.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

(FWIW, I disagree with Betty on that specific example, but completely agree that this isn't enough info, and no-one can diagnose online, though I do get that you're probably not really asking us to! ).

[gordyslovesheep]

I can't spell - nowt to do with being dyslexic - I do have a sld that it's linked to - something dull to do with how the brain processes information - but I just make sure important stuff is spell checked by another human before I send it

[DameFanny]

But do you read for pleasure? That's certainly the most enjoyable way to reinforce correct spellings and grammar - assuming no dyslexia

[guishagirly]

If I turn my spell check off you will see what I mean. I have looked at a few dyslexia sites but they all relate to children not adults.
I tend to spell words as they sound but typically i cant think of any now and my spelling looks ok.
I get really scared when I have to email the school and after filling out the form "femail" I dont ever want to do it again.

Words like lettuce I would spell lettis (dont laugh)

[learnasyougo]

I'm an excellent speller (autocorrect permitting) and it's part of my job, but when tired or distracted I find I can end up spelling phonetically (just like your femail example, but also wright, write, right) but I think this is different to not knowing how to spell a word you should (garlick or gralic instead of garlic or dairy vs diary are common dyslexic mistakes). sometimes, your mind is burdened by other things and takes shortcuts (cognitive load). Some people just have poor memory for how words should look written down, and some people are given an unfair nudge away from correct spelling because they keep seeing the incorrect word, which just muddies the waters (think quiz nite, kwik fit or other people's spelling efforts e.g seperate and 'loose weight'.

I'm a pedant at work but in informal communication, don't sweat it to much. I loathe how English makes a mockery of the idea we have a letter for each sound. Part of me thinks our words are more like Chinese pictograms, sometimes. We need a spelling reform.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

The 'adults' section on the link I gave you isn't for children or parents of dyslexic children. Check it out: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/about-dyslexia/faq/adults-and-employers.html

[learnasyougo]

if it makes you anxious, I second the 'read lots' advice but also, carry a small dictionary with you. It's annoying to look up words all the time but maybe over time you'd remember some of the common tricky ones (independent and accommodation spring to mind).

[guishagirly]

I dont have an issue with spelling dairy or diary but I could not see the difference between the two in your post for a few seconds.
I agree re the incorrect words I spelt pitza for years until I realised it was pizza.

[CumberCookie]

It's possible you have dyslexia. I'm dyslexic and the mistake you mentioned is typical of the mistakes dyslexics make, ie you've got the sound correct, "mail" sounds the same as "male" but couldn't remember the correct way of writing the word.
The other day I tried to spell "very" "thery" because the "v" and the "th" sounds are similar and I was making fast notes and my brain wasn't properly engaged.
I hate my bad spellings, people generally think you are thick or lazy. Even when you tell them that you are dyslexic people see this as an excuse, even teachers! Its a real bugbear of mine - people need to be more educated on it.

[guishagirly]

Thank you LRD, I did read it. I can read ok so I assume I am just crap at spelling. I have tried to learn the words I cant spell but I forget them and go back to the old way.
I know I am not the most academic person out there but I also know I am not stupid. Why cant I remember the stupid spellings.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Look, I'd ring them - because you could probably do with some advice. I think people get hung up on diagnoses, but what really matters to you is how you learn to cope around it. It might be dyslexia; it might be something else, but it's obviously bothering you.

[DrDre]

Using a computer with a spell check makes it worse! I used to have perfect spelling before I started using a computer regularly, since then it has gone down the pan. I rely on the technology too much and my brain has forgotten how to spell some big words without help!

[guishagirly]

Educashunal lunacie or wizdom?

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1523708.stm

The link above shows ITA alphabet. Did anyone else learn the ITA way? How is your spelling?

[guishagirly]

From looking at the spelling on the ITA site I think its more to do with how I was taught rather than having dyslexia. I want to spell educashonal like that but I obviously know you spell it educational because Ive learnt to do it the right way over the years