Daily Mail bemoans spelling test

Interesting to see the Daily Mail blaming Britons’ inability to spell on text messaging.

Says the paper: ‘Of 2,500 surveyed, 40 per cent could not spell "questionnaire", 38 per cent were stumped by "accommodate" and 37 per cent were defeated by "definitely".

Around a third of those questioned were unable to spell "liaison", "existence" or "occurrence".

Other simple words which caused problems were "calendar", "embarrass", "library" and "receipt".

Two-thirds blamed their inability to get words right on the predictive text function on their mobile phones.’

Fair enough - but that rate of mis-spelling seems comparatively good. Only a third can’t spell liaison? In my experience it’s more than that - and among people for whom words are allegedly their living. Bit harsh to lay this all at the door of predictive text, as well. Maybe more to do with handing out ‘A’ grades in exams to all and sundry... without checking if anyone can spell.

The Mail’s list of supposedly simple words was:

1. Questionnaire 2. Accommodate 3. Definitely 4. Liaison 5. Existence 6. Occurrence 7. Referring 8. Occurred 9. Millennium 10. Embarrass 11. Calendar 12. Receive 13. Necessary 14. Separate 15. Cemetery 16. Library 17. Accidentally 18. Independent 19. Occasionally 20. Receipt