Why Spelling Matters

I saw a sign that read, "Ask About Are Free Art Classes".  I laughed at the error.  Then I saw another sign with the same error and I was disappointed.  Then I saw a dozen more of those signs and I was angry.  This was no accident.  Somebody just had no idea that they were using a completely wrong word.

For me, this is exactly why spelling matters.  These words sound identical when spoken, but are spelled completely differently.  They also have completely different meanings.  Proper spelling allows from screwups like this to occur.

Now, the common counterargument is "yeah, but you knew what they meant."  And yes, I did.  However, I'm good at figuring stuff out.  Not everybody may have understood it.  By spelling correctly, you are giving everybody equal footing.

Spelling is like a road map to pronunciation;  at least, it should be.  But we have so many inconsistent and conflicting rules of spelling in English that it can still be a bear to handle.  Nobody would know how to spell or pronounce 'psychology' without a lot of understanding of those rules.

However, our spellings do act as symbols.  Once you recognize the symbol, we know the word and the meaning.  That's why we don't have to sound out words anymore: we know them all.  Once you start deviating from that standard, you largely serve in confusing people who have no idea what you're talking about (at least until your new spellings become symbols themselves, lol).