It is a damned poor mind that can’t think of at least two ways of spelling any word.
– Andrew Jackson –
When I was living in the Middle East, we got into a debate about how to pronounce aluminum. The East Coast American who had lived in New Orleans and Scotland pronounced it one way. The Indian who had lived in Africa pronounced it another. The Australian thought they were both wrong, and I, as a Canadian who had lived in Texas and England, really wasn’t sure any more… Of course, the word is also spelled aluminium, which helped to explain part of the difference in our perspectives. Variances in spelling and pronunciation crop up in each and every Country where English is a spoken language!
English is, of course, an evolving language with new words, and meanings for words, being added daily:
Here’s a brain twister. Can you use the word ‘capitulated’ in a sentence where it doesn’t mean ‘Your hat’s on backwards’?
– Joe Martin –
If that doesn’t create enough confusion, each and every person who speaks English does so with varying ability:
…I struggled through the alphabet as if it had been a bramble-bush; getting considerably worried and scratched by every letter. After that, I fell among those thieves, the nine figures, who seemed every evening to do something new to disguise themselves and baffle recognition.
– Charles Dickens –
A learning disability, such as Dyslexia, can make reading, writing and spelling quite a challenge. Many very Talented People are dyslexic, which just goes to show that you don’t have to know how to spell Outstanding, to be Outstanding! That leads me to think that the fact that I am NOT dyslexic might be the biggest roadblock to my success as a well-known writer, surgeon, singer and world leader….
Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.
– Mark Twain –
Amusives 