By Bob Speyer, Web Success Team –

“C U Soon. LOL!” Common abbreviation or just plain lazy? On a smartphone it makes sense as brevity rules. But do these social habits that seep into our vernacular and consciousness make it acceptable? Like the adage, “If many people believe it to be correct, it is so!”

Is the Nation’s Spelling in “Jeopardy”

Social Media was abuzz when a schoolboy lost out on $6,000 by misspelling Emancipation Proclamation (he spelled it Emanciptation Proclamation) in Final Jeopardy. After the show he complained and of course Twitter weighed in.

My view is simple. Spelling is a reflection of our communication skills and it definitely counts. No one is immune from the spelling faux pas to the everyman, woman or kid for that matter. The famous certainly aren’t immune either. An e-mail from Defense Secretary Leon Panetta misspelled “consistant,” “personel,” “contine” and, up top in all caps, “memorandom.” Yuk.

Misspelling can make or break a job applicant or date for that matter. If a client’s email is littered with typos – its ok – duh, it’s the client; prudent not correct it. However if I send a response with typos, I may be considered “sloppy”, “unprofessional” and give off the subliminal message that I’m not attentive to details, and hence their account. Hypocritical? Maybe, but who said business or life is an equal playing field.

Language Is a Work in Progress

Language is living and evolves over time. Today is no different as new words are added and acceptable forms of language are parsed and passed on as “English”. There was an Ebonics craze years ago that was as much about culture as it was about language. The controversy died down, thank goodness, and has been relegated to a footnote in modern history.

Spelling is not life or death, but can leave permanent scars. Tongue and cheek aside, how many celebs have been publically outed for having their tattoos misspelled? Ouch.

Brain Test

The mind sees what it wants to see. Read this paragraph aloud. You’ll be surprised how your mind “sees” what’s not there!

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In the Final Analysis

Is social media the great leveler of the playing field? Or is it a reflection on the dumbing or numbing of America? People change, habits change for better or worse. What say you?