“I hate dictation and spelling tests,” I often hear my students whine whenever it’s time for their weekly spelling quiz.

“English words are so hard to spell!” others complain.

“They sound different and are written differently,” they argue.

“But we have spell checkers now on our computers and smartphones! What is the use of memorising spellings?” the persistent ones egg me on.

These repeated debates led me to ponder and research upon the importance of remembering spellings. It is true that spellings are a vital part of classroom teaching. Many schools send home spelling lists every week to be memorised by young children and parents spend precious hours helping their young scholars pore over these words. This exercise continues even as the pupils grow in age and are promoted to higher classes.

Some schools of thought argue that focusing on spellings hinders a child’s creative thinking process. Many claim that a research from a reputed university shows that it doesn’t matter how you spell a word — as long as the first and last alphabets are in the right places.

Sorry to disillusion you, but this is a hoax to undermine the importance of spellings. The fact of the matter is that it is only highly fluent readers who can decipher words written in such a haphazard manner.

Experts like reading specialist Susan Jones, clearly exhort that whether you like it or not, spellings are the building blocks of a language. One must master spellings if you wish to understand the relationship between the sounds and symbols of a language. This is the sure shot way to help understand the complex pattern of the English language and become a fluent reader and, eventually, writer.

Some claim that English is a confusing language and that there are no rules as to how a word is spelt. On the contrary, it is a properly structured and decodable language, with traceable origins, whose rules can be learnt with proper instruction and training.

Spellings, reading and comprehending

Reading is the backbone to being literate — that’s why we admire people who are ‘well-read’! However, in order to read one must master spellings to decipher a word.

Similarly, comprehending what you have read also depends upon proper spelling structure. It is only when a student knows and understands a word thoroughly will he be able to recognise it and consequently use it in his oral and written communication.

Spellings are not a drag

Maybe the method in which spellings are taught in schools is tedious. But it need not be! Entertaining and creative methods to help children learn to spell creates an interest in spelling words. Teachers in school, parents at home and children among their peer groups can learn spellings in an entertaining way by word games like scrabble, word search, hangman and crosswords. Introducing children to these word-based puzzles helps intrigue them and automatically builds a strong foundation for better spellings as well as vocabulary enhancement.

Such games are easily available online on educational websites and books in reputed bookstores. Spelling Bees on the regional and international levels have also played a profoundly effective role in rejuvenating children’s inclination towards mastering spellings in a dynamic manner.

Start at a young age

As with everything else, creating a love for words in a child from a nascent age requires that we introduce young children to games and activities which revolve around words and letters from their early years. This can begin right from arranging colourful alphabet blocks or magnets to form simple words when the child is in preschool. The exercise can progress to using flash cards and then even memory games based on spellings which require young children to recall and trace words they have seen.

Work at your spellings

Learning to spell comes naturally to a handful of people. Most of us ordinary mortals have to struggle to recall the way words are spelt and there is a simple and effective, yet cumbersome tried and tested formula to it — putting in consistent time and effort. It also means not getting frustrated and never giving up. Here are a few tips to help you become a great speller:

Reading: The best way to learn to spell is to read as much as possible. Reading is the key to gaining proficiency over all aspects of any language, including the English lingua.

Your own spelling patterns: As a child grows older, he can learn to spell by creating his own associations between what a word ‘looks’ like to what sound it creates. The best way to learn a spelling is undoubtedly to write it down. This helps you to make use of your three senses, which are sight, sound and movement, to help recall a word. For example, an association which has helped me remember the word ‘necessary’ (the fact that it has one c and two Ss) is that it is ‘necessary’ for a shirt to have one collar and two sleeves — one c and two s. Be creative and cobble together your own formulas and associations.

Reading lists: Experts believe that making your own spelling lists of words with similar letter patterns helps train your hand to automatically remember how to spell words.

A neat hand: A tidily written script will help you recall the words you have written and improve your handwriting as an added boon. Also, spelling lists should be written without capitals and preferably in cursive to help nurture a flow in your script.

A spelling log: Make your personal word bank of words in a handy diary or notebook. You may come across new words in your school or while reading a book which may trigger your fascination. Jotting such words down helps you memorise their spellings and also remember the context in which it is used so that you can reuse it appropriately in your own compositions and conversation.

Peer practice: Sitting with a group of like-minded friends who also wish to master spellings and quizzing each other randomly on words will help make this activity enjoyable and foster a healthy spirit of competition as well as comradeship.

The right tools

Dictionaries are certainly a language lover’s best friend. Those who keep a dictionary handy and are familiar with using it without hesitation will automatically improve their word recognition power and vocabulary. Many dictionaries also furnish the word origins which help one to remember words of Latin, Greek or varied sources.

There are also specialised dictionaries like a spelling dictionary which provides lists of words with their variation but without meanings. This uncomplicated format makes finding a word easier. Another dictionary is a phonetic dictionary which lists words by sounds. Words are provided also by their vowel sounds and number of syllables and meanings are only given in case of homophones.

Personally, I am an ardent user of the thesaurus which provides synonyms which is a remarkable way not just to enrich your vocabulary but also create a love for the language.

Using technology correctly

Speaking of tools, the boom in technology has certainly helped our young readers gain access to websites which make learning to spell fun! However, messaging over smartphones and chat forums has led to a more laidback approach to spellings where youngsters resort to slang spellings and short forms which would make any lover of the English language cringe.

Such slang may be acceptable for use among friends yet in the academics and professional life, it becomes harder to gain command over writing formally. There is nothing to create a bad impression of someone’s academic prowess than a piece of writing with poor spellings.

It’s never too late

If you think you can never change the miserable way you spell, think again. The only thing you need is an unshakeable drive and determination to take up the task. Never hesitate to admit to spelling errors and be quick to amend your mistakes.

Remember that you will need to be a proficient speller not just to get through school and college but in your professional life and day to day existence. Be it job applications, personal essays, letters of complaint or inquiry or even thank you notes to near and dear ones, you will need a command over spellings to create a favourable impression and get your message across with clarity.

Believe it or not, there is nothing more painful to an expert eye than a misspelt word.

The writer, Marilyn vos Savant aptly says, “When our spelling is perfect, it’s invisible. But when it’s flawed, it prompts strong negative associations.”