poor spelling -- it matters

[glow_worm]

I just read one of my own posts & cringed when I discovered all of the misspelled words. Luckily we have an "edit" button.

Yes, we're not in school. And yes, a post is not an essay. But the sloppy spelling does matter, for this is a public domain. We represent nursing to the consumers & potential nurses perusing this board, and to one another. Poor spelling makes the writer look like an idiot (ditto with charting).

Each time this issue is brought up, the messenger is beaten to a pulp. Please forgive me for pointing this out, but it does matter.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I feel gooder too.

-R

Rusty, that should be I feel weller....also

[OrthoNutter]

Originally posted by tonchitoRN

i have even written to webmasters to notify them of their typos on web pages. it just plain looks unprofessional.

When do you get time to do that? I have trouble fitting everything I have to do in the hours that are in each day as it is, let alone writing to someone every time they posted something that annoyed me. :chuckle

[Eyenurse]

I am glad that somebody brought the subject of mispelling. My first language is not English therefore, I am guilty of mispelling myself. However, I am sometimes embarassed by some of the things that a minority of nurses mention in these discussions.

Professionalism is part of nursing and if physicians were to talk about nurses the way some nurses describe them, nurses would sue physicians. We have to respect ourselves and others, if we want people to respect us. If a physician is having a bad day because he did not sleep all night, that is his problem, not mine. I just answer that I do not like to be spoken this way and then continue my business as if nothing happened. If I don't know the answer to a question, I will say that I don't know, not that I am not covering the patient...I will, however try to find the answer.

One thing that I hear junior nurses say sometimes to physicians, and it burns me, is: I don't know, I'm just the nurse... Don't ever bring yourself or your profession down. Be proud of yourself and your profession. Nursing is not just a job, it is a choice you made for a career.

And for those who only seem to complain about nursing, be proactive. Don't procrastinate. If something does not work in your job, try to work it out, or accept it, but stop complaining!! If everything is wrong at work, change job! Or find a new career!

[Jaydenc]

When I need to orient a new employee to a position, of course I take note of wether or not they can read, write or spell. Charting is a major part of nursing. If it wasn't charted it wasn't done.

Think of a court of law!

[Jaydenc]

When I need to orient a new employee to a position, of course I take note of wether or not they can read, write or spell. Charting is a major part of nursing. If it wasn't charted it wasn't done.

Think of a court of law!

[Jaydenc]

SPELLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a mother of four and trying to teach them to spell. Well, going to the teachers and saying "this is spelled incorrectly", was just not good enough. They're response was, "well we are not grading them on spelling, we are grading them on content". What kind of crap is that?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jaydenc]

SPELLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a mother of four and trying to teach them to spell. Well, going to the teachers and saying "this is spelled incorrectly", was just not good enough. They're response was, "well we are not grading them on spelling, we are grading them on content". What kind of crap is that?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kmchugh]

OK, I have to chime in on this one. First off, let me say that on THIS board, I ignore spelling, grammer, etc errors, trying to concentrate on what the poster is saying. I view this as a board for nurses, but one that includes an international membership, and often is nothing more than social interaction. Some subjects, we get so passionate about we just let our fingers fly. As such, I just don't find it as important. Its the content I'm paying more attention to (to which I am paying attention). That said....

The writing skills of some professionals, be they nurses, doctors, lawyers, etc is appalling. Professional (or student, for that matter) writing is just that: professional. As such, it should be neat, grammatically correct, and SPELLED correctly. While our teachers may now be grading for spelling, but for content, rest assured that much of the rest of the world is judging us based on our ability to write and to spell. It is how we must communicate professionally. Those who consider it unimportant, and who belittle those who do manage to write well are only doing themselves a disservice. Like it or not, how well we write, or how well we speak, is the first basis on which we are judged professionally. Speaking for myself, I'd rather not be hobbled right out of the gate.

Kevin McHugh

[kmchugh]

OK, I have to chime in on this one. First off, let me say that on THIS board, I ignore spelling, grammer, etc errors, trying to concentrate on what the poster is saying. I view this as a board for nurses, but one that includes an international membership, and often is nothing more than social interaction. Some subjects, we get so passionate about we just let our fingers fly. As such, I just don't find it as important. Its the content I'm paying more attention to (to which I am paying attention). That said....

The writing skills of some professionals, be they nurses, doctors, lawyers, etc is appalling. Professional (or student, for that matter) writing is just that: professional. As such, it should be neat, grammatically correct, and SPELLED correctly. While our teachers may now be grading for spelling, but for content, rest assured that much of the rest of the world is judging us based on our ability to write and to spell. It is how we must communicate professionally. Those who consider it unimportant, and who belittle those who do manage to write well are only doing themselves a disservice. Like it or not, how well we write, or how well we speak, is the first basis on which we are judged professionally. Speaking for myself, I'd rather not be hobbled right out of the gate.

Kevin McHugh

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Kevin, De Oppresso Liber" (We Liberate the Oppressed).

May your friend return soon.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Kevin, De Oppresso Liber" (We Liberate the Oppressed).

May your friend return soon.

[oramar]

I have a problem with being unable to see my errors on first exam. If I can come back in a little while I see them all right away. I don't know what causes that.