[shalym]

Originally Posted by GeoffR

Being able to recognise spelling or grammatical mistakes is different from being able to spell or construct sentences or type, just as being able to read a novel is different from being able to write one, or being able to understand a language is different from being able to speak it. Learning to analyse doesn't automatically result in the ability to synthesise.

So I can recognise when my toilet needs fixing and I am entitled to criticise the plumber who does a bad job of fixing it, even though I have no idea how to fix it myself.

(Edit: But it is not fair to criticise someone who doesn't claim to be a professional for not meeting professional standards. So to make my point explicit and avoid misunderstandings, it is fair enough for a reader to complain about spelling mistakes in a professionally published book, even if they can't acheive the same standard of spelling themselves. Pointing out spelling mistakes in the complaint doesn't necessarily invalidate that complaint, not even if it is a complaint about spelling.)

Originally Posted by HarryT

The complaint was not about standards in a professional book, but that reading SF makes a child a poor speller. That's not something I would personally agree with.

I agree with Harry. Katie was implying that people are bad spellers and readers because they read "SiFi" (what, exactly, *is* "SiFi", anyway?) However, even in the statement about how "SiFi" is the reason for bad spelling, she misspelled a word, (one that was spelled correctly in the post above hers, incidentally) used the wrong word, ("to" instead of "too") and randomly capitalized others. If you read other posts by her, you'll see many examples of other misspelled words and grammar.

For someone who doesn't read "SiFi", she seems to have quite a bit of a problem spelling.

Originally Posted by Katie1

This is why I Don't read SiFi... To much made up crap. Now you tell me even Made up Words! No wonder Kids Cant Spell or READ!

Shari