Thread by @ettiebk

Here's a free, simple, easy thing you can do to be more inclusive and accessible in your communication.

But my writer friends aren't going to like this one.

🔡 I think we should rethink spelling.

Here's why spelling is an inclusion issue, and what you can do about it. 👇

English spelling is flamboyantly, cantankerously, ebulliantly, bafflingly irregular.

English is chock full of silent letters, inconsistent patterns and words that look or sound the same.

We have 185 spellings for 44 sounds. (The European average is 50! spellingsociety.org/irregularities…)

LOTS of people struggle with spelling.

Maybe we're:

✍️ Dyslexic

🛌 Tired

😟 Anxious or distracted.

Or maybe we

🌎 Speak English as an additional language

🏫 Had a difficult time at school

📚 "Just aren't word people"

When I'm teaching workshops, I hear that last one all the time.

But you don't need to be a "word person." ANYONE can be an accessible writer.

Anyway.

Obviously people make spelling mistakes.

And when people make spelling mistakes, many of us respond like this:

💼 We say: unprofessional

"Her emails are totally unprofessional; she confuses they're and their" - recent client.

🧠 We say: stupid

"Haha he can't even spell definitely, the idiot" - recent client about his direct report. (also whyy is this funny?)

➡️ Or we dismiss people's views.

But why mock someone's spelling, if you really want to challenge their racist, sexist, ableist ideas?

Saying "lol you can't even spell transgender" isn't an amazing clapback.

Just challenge their content.

There's a quote that goes something like "Hitler was no less a monster because he could pen a good speech" (does anyone know the one I mean? Help me find it please!)

Because spelling isn't a MORAL issue.

You're not a bad person if your spelling is "bad."

Obviously.

"OK but Ettie, isn't spelling words right is an accessibility issue?"

Yes. We do have to spell words right.

✅ Spell words right and screenreaders can read them out correctly.

❌ Misspell them and users hear a jumble of letters. #A11y

We DO need to spell these words right. And that's what autocorrect, and spelling & grammar checker are for.

And also - responding kindly and pleasantly to mistakes?!

Can we all just be a bit kinder, more relaxed and not treat spelling errors as some kind of personal failing?

(Also I really hope some people will read this and not know what I'm talking about - like they've genuinely never worked anywhere where spelling errors were mocked).

In conclusion, I think we should be wayyyy more chill about spelling mistakes.

Point them out. Be nice about it. Move on.

I know at #CopywritersUnite y'all are typo positive, so perhaps you won't put a hit out on my for saying this.

But intrigued to know what other copywriters think of this.

How important is spelling?

Do you notice copywriters treating "lol u cant spell" as a hilaaarious insult?

Interested to hear what copywriter pals think of this one.

Do we love/hate/not care about spelling?

Should writers & #a11y people go to war?

Writer brains like @penthemighty, @allcopymel, @LauraParkerUX @nickparker @meghscase what side of the war are you on?