Dyslexia
“I’ve spotted an error on your blog.”
“A spelling error? In my latest post?”
“No, not really.”
“In the previous post?”
“No, it’s not actually in any of your posts.”
“What do you mean? I don’t see any… oh… bugger. That’s been there for a while.”
And that is how I discovered that a mistake in my blog’s banner has gone unnoticed for the past year.
How many of you just looked up at the banner? I thought so. You won’t see it any more because it’s already been fixed. However, this blog was described as, “The story an accident prone Englishman,” while showing a secret and unjust bias towards the normal use of the common word ‘of’. In other words, I made a typo and left out a word.
A few spelling mistakes and typos have made it into my posts from time to time so by now a few of you may have worked out that I am dyslexic. I enjoy writing and I have never let being dyslexic take anything away from that enjoyment.
However, as a dyslexic person I have often wondered; what sort of evil twisted sadomasochistic wordsmith decided to make dyslexia such a hard word to spell? It seems ironic that it is a word that is difficult to spell with out the aid of a spell checker. Isn’t this the equivalent of pulling faces at a blind person or talking in a silly voice to a deaf person?
The word has Ys and Xs and other letters in it which are arranged in the sort of combination usually reserved for dinosaur names and really complicated mathematical equations that only Steven Hawkins can comprehend. Couldn’t they have just made it a simple three letter word, maybe using letters that are all close to each other in the alphabet?
Being dyslexic has lead to me making a few comical mistakes with the written language in the past, such as the time I applied for a job at the Jim Henson Creature Shop. I had just finished college and fancied a job working for the creators of the Muppets. I wrote a very professional letter explaining why I desired the job and why I thought I would be good at it. If it had not been for a friend of mine asking to have a quick read before I sealed the letter in an envelope I would have sent it with a very strange spelling mistake.
Since then I have never confused the spelling for ‘sincerely’ with ‘sensually’ ever again. I might have been offered the job if I had left the mistake in but it would have been for the wrong reasons and I don’t want to be the man who has to bring sexual harassment charges against Kermit the Frog because of a misunderstanding caused by a spelling error.
Eh.. Stu… as a fellow dyslexic, just between you and me: I guess you want to correct ‘coursed’ to ’caused’ in the last sentence…
And yes, I share your frustration with the sarcastic and inconsiderated person who created that word…
Jrf – Hehe… thanks. I was almost thinking of writing that any spelling errors in this post were done to be ironic just to cover myself in any slipped through.
Don’t feel bad. I’m not dyslexic but when I read your post, I didn’t pick up the ‘of’ was missing. The brain compensates in other ways.
And yes, I share your frustration with the sarcastic and inconsiderated person who created that word…
^^ x2
But remember: dyslectics of the world: untie!
I have no idez whether or not i’m dyslexic, according to an old teacher of mine I am, but I do know I’m prone on errors. And freaking weird ones too, like leave out of without. Or forget to add the n’t to certain verbs.
Don’t think I’m dyslexic but try being a non-native English speaker trying to spell it without any help from Webster’s & co… :P
*LOL* I thought Kermit fancied the pink piggy? ;)
I’m not dyslexic but my mind can play tricks on me too ;)
Hi Stu, I do remember noticing your banner once before, but it obviously didn’t seem that important as I forgot about it till you mentioned it here. Still, I think you do amazingly well considering and the mistakes you make are similar to many made by my non English speaking students, so hey! It just gives character to your posts ;-)
I love the story about sensually and sincerely
And by the way, I’ve just published a post which is rather connected to yours! I’m not dyslexic, but I have terrible trouble with me vowels..ooh yes I do…
oh Stu, that’s very cute. and again, you, mistakes? i don’t know, or my brain makes the work or my English is dyslexic too :-)
anyway i love your style, so fresh and original
The funny thing is that I’ve read it before, and registered that something was wrong, but I never figured out WHAT.
It was probably the same cruel sadistic person who decided to include a letter “s” in the word “lisp.”
Also, why does monosyllabic have so many syllables?
Ah, spelling mistakes all the time. Though I am surprised that no one noticed it before now. That’s crazy! LOL. I totally agree with you on the spelling of dyslexic. I would never be able to spell it normally if I hadn’t read it like 10 times in your post. Hehehe. Good thing that your friend looked over your resume. Phew! ;)
So the charges would stick! I’m, kind of, with you, Stu..
Everyone – Hello. Sorry for the slow replies to comments lately. I have found myself with out internet at home again and have not been in the office either to use the connection there.
ChickyBabe – I was doing the same.
Quack of Doom – I hear you brother.
Manictastic – If you are you can join our club.
Ana Luisa – That must be hard as well.
Tess – Yes, Miss Piggy would not be happy with me.
Anneke – Sure. thank you for taking an interest in my blog.
VallyP – Cool. I’ll take a look :)
sophie – Thank you :)
Aisling – My brain was filling it in as well
Alan – I don’t know but I think it is time to bring these people to justice.
Emiel – Now I have a list of famous people that can join the dyslexic army :p
Carolynne – It was but I have just realized there might have been others I sent out.
andey – Thank you.