Pelican>>>Also if you are going to write something ... should aim to do it well.

I agree, but how do you define 'well'.

Also, there is a huge difference between a 'typo' and a 'new language'.

Proxy,
In order for the human brain to be able to process words, the first and last letter have to be in order. The rest really don't matter.

individual,
Are you therefore suggesting that if you decided to reside in say 'Irac', that you would understand the language so long as it was spelt right.

Also, what is so unclear about 'C U then'. After all, we all know what it means, also, english is said to be the hardest language to learn.

Words like 'saw' can have so many meanings, or even 'read'

Gen 'Y's' are developing a whole new language and it works perfectly well, for them.

I am sure someone from another nationality could learn their language much easier than our's.

In places like this it's not important, as long as you can be understood coz we're usually just bashing out some reply, but professionally it matters. It reflects badly on you as a person regardless of whether you think it matters or not.

If we let it slip, we're dropping the standard and inevitably you'll end up with 'lol', 'rofl', '*rollies*, 'GTFOH', etc in official letters. Which is ridiculous. "Language" like that is pure laziness.

To me though, there's a HUGE difference between laziness and someone with learning difficulties. If it's obvious they've made an effort but there's grammar issues still I'm not so judgemental, but if it's excessive typos or net slang then I'll subconsciously write you off .... in an official capacity.

I'm far from perfect with grammar myself, but I make an effort with official documents because I know it reflects on me and it's respectful to the recipient.

rehctuB,
<<In order for the human brain to be able to process words, the first and last letter have to be in order. The rest really don't matter.>>
You're confusing two different things.
Spelling something incorrectly, implies mistakes based on phonetics.
Your above example implies scrambling all the letters of the correctly spelt word, except the first and the last.
Try spelling words incorrectly, then scrambling all bar the first and last letters and then see how recognisable they are.....
elementary >
Lamentree >
Leanmetre

The answer is yes and no.

The human mind is extremely good at filling in blanks, so when 2 people that know each other well text, the messages are understood even though they might be incomprehensible to others.

For a CV, well crafted succinct text is required, as it needs to be clear.

For legal contracts the requirement is even stricter, as the meaning not only needs to be clear, but also completely unambiguous, and the finer definition of words are critical.

So the answer is it depends.

rehctub
Well enough to be understood and the intent clear. None of us are perfect, but I think it is about context.

If I am writing a shopping list or leaving a note for one of my children, I can allow myself some latitude. If I was writing a report for work or analysing some figures my writings would involve more effort on my part.

This is not just in regard to spelling but phrasing and grammar.

When I am on OLO I can often be a bit slap dash, other times more time is spent crafting a response.

Belly
From what you have revealed in the past, I think you have done well and made something of yourself. I certainly don't judge you on your grammar or spelling on OLO, merely by what it is you have to say. It is who we are and what we stand for that is far more important.

Spelling is very important

1982 I was struck by lightning, and one of the problems I was left with was memory loss.
I couldn't remember how to spell, or to remember poems or word to songs. I can stilol read music, but my brain won't send the signal to my fingers quick enough.
At that time I played piano, piano accordian and sang.I have learned to spell reasonably well, but lots of times I don't know if a word has double ss, mm, cc nn, or singles
I keep a small pocket dictionary handy
Being able to spell and then have it taken from you, might change minds on how good it is to know good spelling from word sound type spelling.
It mite (might)get u(you) a bit up tite(tight)
Cheers
qutas