[Roadsters] OT: Spelling

[Gary McCormick]

An old-timer with whom I worked when I was a youngster (I guess that I qualify as an "old-timer" now, come to think of it - with 27 years as an engineer under my belt...) was a notoriously bad speller. He came up in the profession in the days when you wrote out letters and reports by hand, and they were typed by a secretary - who knew how to spell.

I like to think that I am the exception that proves the rule ("prove" from the Latin "probat", meaning test...) - I scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT in English, and once, when I pointed out an obscure error in grammar in a company publication to a senior tech writer (who is a former high school English teacher), was asked - "Are you sure that you're an engineer?"

Correct spelling and proper grammar are dropping by the wayside in the modern world, unfortunately. Even folks who use words for a living - television commentators (especially sports commentators) and the like - rarely have a strong grasp of the fundamentals of the language (Every time I hear some talking head on the boob tube say, "He played good out there today", I want to scream.)

Gary McCormick
San Jose, CA

"Hall, Phillip B. (MSFC-ED03)" <Phillip.B.Hall at nasa.gov> wrote:  I think it is a "left brain - right brain" thing.  Engineers can not
spell well - this one included.  If it was not for spell-check people
would have good time with me:)

I am generally pretty creative, but I do have "gaps".  I started taking
guitar lessons and this has really helped exercise the left brain.  I am
finding my designs come easier and more often.  Now if I had the time to
build all this stuff....

Have a great Roadster week everyone!

Phil
SEROC

-----Original Message-----
From: datsun-roadsters-bounces+phillip.b.hall=nasa.gov at autox.team.net
[mailto:datsun-roadsters-bounces+phillip.b.hall=nasa.gov at autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of MH
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 8:17 AM
To: Gary and Cindy Ault; datsun-roadsters at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Roadsters] OT: Spelling

I worked with civil engineers at Black & Veatch for more than twenty
years.
One in particular that I liked working with and whom I respected, once
wrote a "spec" sheet for some motor driven equipment for a water
treatment plant project. He consistently spelled out "moter" numerous
times in the document.
Good thing it was proofread by others before it was published.
Mike Hudson  '67 - Stroker / 5 speed


----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary and Cindy Ault" 
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 12:47 AM
Subject: [Roadsters] OT: Spelling


> Sorry.  I couldn't help myself.
>
> Some person has a windshield washer "nosel" for sale on eBay.  My
grandfather,
> for whom I have tremendous respect, never got past the 6th grade.  His
> spelling was better.  How do these people get along in a modern world?
> ("Nosel" wasn't misspelled once; the spelling was consistent
throughout
the
> listing.)
>
> Gary
> __
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