Internet causing a decline in grammar and spelling ability?
439193
YES! as a teacher I completely agree with you, although i must say I am guilty of doing it myself when using the internet. I abbreviate most words when typing on the net because it is easier, but unlike children I know the correct way of typing as well. There are many examples I have seen at school where the internet has caused a decline in grammar and spelling ability! Text messaging on phones does the same thing. Often I will mark stories that include words such as 'da, cos, ya,' and so on.  I was reading the kids a book the other day, it said "....the cheetah laughed out loud" one of the kids put their hands up and said "that's LOL" I questioned them and then realised what they meant. On the internet typing LOL means laugh out loud. It is a real worry. I see kids who can't spell or write properly but can chat on the internet using perfect 'net language'!!
1159656
It's becoming less of a focus, in large part due to technology and how it will, arguably in the near future, be integrated entirely into school curricula.  The spell check feature is going to replace spelling lessons.  Just another way technology "makes life easier."\n\nTheorists also believe that we'll "pick up" our mistakes and thier solutions as they're identified-- but these folks obviously haven't spent any time in the real world.  Theory and real-world application rarely coincide.  Why would any child take the time to recognize a spelling deficiency if there will always be a button to click that will correct things for them?  What is the motivation?
567779
either a) my theory that Americans really are getting more stupid by the minute,   or b) people are on it so much and type so fast that they try to shorten up what they say by using self-invented shorthand for the computer. It is one of my personal pet peeves, not so much typing, but people who cannot seem to be able to speak English anymore. Do you know they are actually considering teaching ebonics in American high schools?! I say make the kids master English first.
433257
Some are too lazy to use this feature! I'm not, rest assured! I've enhanced my spelling 100% using a computer the last 3-5 years. I'm 18 years old and am proud of my vocabulary.
373422
they have become too dependent on spell checkers and calculators..\n\nI usually give them this like to go play at...\n\nhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/revisewise/english/spelling/
67458
uv cores knott, hoo neads speleng?\n\nJusk kidding.  They most certainly do still teach it.  I know that I had to do in-class essays until I finished high school (although I have yet to be asked to turn in a hand-written essay in college), and all the elementary school aged kids I know have weekly spelling words.  Apparently, however, many people feel that publicly accessible online forums are not subject to the rules of spelling and grammar.  My personal favorite was "how to get accepted into a ivy league college?"  Although "don't talk ur d_mb" was also pretty good.  It also seems that many people are under the delusion that "ur," "r," and "n" are actual words.
461969
I agree whole-heartedly. This has been bugging me quite a bit. What bothers me even more is that people have such horrific spelling and grammar to begin with. I'm assuming that most of the people who post on this website are at least 13 or older. People of that age should be capable of expressing themselves clearly and intelligently.
195395
Have you see some of the spelling (I mean mis-spelling) of words and the the improper sentence structure here on *Answers?  Do you think this is helping us develop our literacy skills?  \n\nThe only way that I can think of how technology is improving our literacy skills, is we can do instant access to a wide range of reference sources on the Internet.  \n\nOne excellant site is:  www.refdesk.com  \n\nIt makes it easier to look up words, people, subjects, etc. than having to go get the dictionary and try to find the word.  So, being easier than the old way, I would say people are more likely now to look up words, so that would probably increase literacy.
928919
unfortunately with more and more young people using computers and the abbreviations common to computer"shorthand", the proper  grammar and use of the written language with correct punctuation is lost\nit has become its own popular but to me lazy vernacular\nthe use of u for you\nthe use of r for are  etc.\nsome much time is spent watching  TV\nplaying video games\nnot enough reading and thinking thoughts through\nmy niece who teaches English told me a funny story\nshe gave a writing assignment and the student's opening sentence  asked the question can u ......?\nshe read no further\nher remark on the paper next to the grade\nwas U FAIL\ncomputers have spell check so you do not have to learn to spell\nit is not only language but math\ndid you ever notice some younger people who have part time jobs as cashiers cannot do simple arithmetic?\nthe cash registers now tell them how much change to give\nthere was a young girl who started a job in a local small shop who upon finding the register in the store was the old type that did not tell you how much change to give had to quit or be fired because she couldn't figure out on her own how much change from a twenty dollar bill was due back from a $6.25 purchase\nno wonder the world is such a mess\nall these gadgets today do the thinking for us- and everyone is in such a hurry to get where?
581533
The site is used by people all over the globe. Many of them are not native English-speakers. But most of the others are kids and teens who really don't care about communicating correctly. They also have probably never been taught to write correctly. And they seem to enjoy using their own net-speak, which gives them a sense of community and identity that separates them from adults. And then there are those who are in a hurry to ask or answer questions. And finally, there are those who are too stupid, ignorant, or lazy to use correct spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation -- all the things that are required to communicate in writing.
1006570
No, it really irritates those of us who bothered to learn proper grammar and spelling in school.  The problem today?  It's called No Child Left Behind (aka dumbing down the curriculum).
630418
It is so annoying to see questions/answers with so many spelling/grammar mistakes!  I guess people are just too lazy to make use of the 'check spelling' link.  And yes, the apparent lack of adequate spelling/grammar skills in today's children/teenagers worries me. :(
371583
I'd choose the library and reading.\n\nThe internet has collapsed into slang and abbreviated words which will do nothing to help grammer skills.  Television, like the internet, has become a vehicle for pop culture which panders to the lowest standards of the population.\n\nBut reading is unalterable - if you choose wisely, which is where the library comes in.  There are trained persons in a library who can help you.  Even if you don't need ESOL or literacy training, tutors and librarians are there to help.  They can assist and suggest classic reading materials as well as reference books which can clarify the rules and application of good grammer.\n\ncheers
521818
I find it annoying that most people are too lazy to speak or write any kind of English properly. Give it a couple of decades and they will probably be teaching SMS shorthand grammar in schools.
1163630
I've noticed it too.\n\nBut you've got to remember that many of these people on this site haven't even graduated from high school, are not native English speakers, and/or are purely doing this for fun.  They're not too concerned about their grammar.
1086540
Hmmm ... I guess if this were true, it's pretty weird.  I'm a little doubtful that you are a teacher though, your grammar and spelling are atrocious.
886033
http://a4esl.org/\nhttp://a4esl.org/q/j/\nhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/\n\nYou should try joining forums where the majority of people type properly.  That way you can interact and kind of "absorb" grammar and vocabulary.