Last updated on February 25, 2024
The art of spelling – don’t let autocorrect steal your magic
The art of spelling is a dying one, it seems. In this age of smartphones and, okay, smart everything, they all come with a default autocorrect or automated dictionary tool. I mean, it’s just so easy now. Why bother with the intricacies of language when your device can effortlessly predict and correct every keystroke? Tempting. Certainly handy.
I was always a terrible speller, which means I spent most of my life with my face in a hardcover (or softcover, pocket-sized, travel, paperback…) dictionary checking my spelling. Having one on all my devices saves me an arm cramp from hoisting those massive volumes. Rather useful if you ask me. But there’s another side.
If you haven’t in a while, I invite you to take this moment to appreciate the art of spelling for what it is and what it can do for us, as writers. Because despite what some people think, it’s very much worth the effort to maintain our spelling skills in the face of automated assistance.
The personal touch
No algorithm can replicate the manual act of correct spelling. Without a doubt, automated dictionaries and spellcheckers catch the obvious mistakes and are super helpful editing tools that can save you time. But remember, proofreading is a skill, too. It’s the personal touch we apply to our work to improve it. When we do it well, we can usually catch our own spelling mistakes, at least most of them. I think we should proofread first before we resort to using automation. It keeps the humanity in it, the writer’s spirit infused into the words.
Most certainly, automation can’t replace the personal touch of a writer who takes the time to choose the right words and spell them correctly while getting them out of their head onto the page for a first draft. On a personal level, there’s a sense of pride that comes with crafting a sentence without relying on technology to do the heavy lifting.
Preserving the nuances
Language is a dynamic and ever-evolving entity filled with nuance and subtleties which may not be captured by autocorrect. “May not”… Look, AI isn’t that smart yet. Yes-yes, it’s incredibly useful and adaptive and time-saving and hey, even I use it at my day job for business writing.
For fiction, though? For my own amusement, I’ve been testing it pretty hard of late and the thing that strikes me most over and over is it just doesn’t get the nuance. Not for creative writing. You and I know creative writing isn’t wholly about the grammar and spelling rules. You’ve seen me blathering on about it before, but that’s only because it’s true. It’s about the magic. As fiction writers, we don’t only convey information. We’re not ticking off facts here.
When we write a story, we charge up those words, infuse them with emotions and our individual personalities and style. When we construct those words through spelling, that’s the act of casting our spell. That’s the art and that spelling plays a vital role in our expression. Choosing the words, constructing the words, turning our thoughts into words by lining up letters in a very specific order is an act of love and birth. This is how we create a unique voice that we use to not only connect with readers but that, hopefully, resonates within them.
Avoiding embarrassing spelling blunders
Although autocorrect can help avoid dumb typos, it’s not infallible. We’ve all heard the stories of autocorrect turning innocent messages into cringe-worthy fuckups. By maintaining good spelling skills, writers can avoid those awkward situations and ensure their words convey messages without any unintended humour or embarrassing circumstances.
How much do you really trust that automated dictionary? Be honest. Would you trust it one-hundred percent through your first draft? How about through to the end of your final publishing draft? Would you trust it enough to publish without eyeballing your spelling yourself? Do you trust it to not to do anything someone will be taking a screenshot of and posting to Insta or TikTok to kill your reputation? If you do, then you’re braver than I.
Strengthen cognitive skills with the art of spelling
Spelling has a positive impact on our cognitive abilities. It engages our brains in a way that autocorrect simply doesn’t. When we take the time to carefully choose and spell out each word, we’re exercising our cognitive muscles and giving our brains a good workout. This mental exercise contributes to better overall language skills, including grammar and vocabulary. Improving your language skills? My goodness, why on earth would good language skills help you be a better writer? (*heavy sarcasm there for anyone who hasn’t had coffee yet)
Respecting the craft
Writing is a craft, and like any craft, it requires dedication and practice. Relying too heavily on autocorrect is akin to a painter depending on an auto-paintbrush that paints by the numbers. It’s mechanical and distanced from the art. Where’s the skill in that? Where’s the soul engagement?
By honing our spelling skills, we pay homage to the rich tradition of storytelling and the written word. If we don’t respect the craft we practice, how can we remain worthy enough to be part of that tradition? Again, I’m not saying never use these tools, but remember, they are only tools. Autocorrect and default dictionaries can never replace a writer’s creative skill.
Conclusion
Convenience often trumps craftsmanship nowadays, this we know. But that doesn’t mean we have to give in to that all the time just because it might seem easier in the moment. Whenever we do it when we don’t need to, we lose a part of our creative selves. We do that long enough, and we won’t have enough creativity left to give birth to anything remotely unique or insightful. Everything will all begin to have the same flavour. That’s not the world I want to live in.
We combat that by resisting the temptation of autocorrect whenever practical and embracing the art of spelling. Because it’s so much more than only putting letters in the correct order. It’s about preserving the beauty and subtleties of language, infusing our words with our emotion and spirit, and, most importantly, respecting writing craft. Wield your magic to spell purposefully and with care, and you will continue to craft stories that will stand the test of time.