Definately contraversial

[Nancy66]

But when people can't spell do you automatically assume they're a bit thick?

I do, I'm afraid.

Mij - certainly bad teaching plays a part but by the time you are an adult, if you are functionally literate, you have to take some responsibility for yourself. And look things up if you know you have difficulty in spelling certain words!

(I had friends as a child who were unfortunate enough to have been at junior schools that used the Initial Teaching Alphabet - they really could NOT spell, poor sods.)

I love people on MN who always spell things right.

Nope, not dyslexia - she can read fine, just can't spell.

DH is a bit the same, with him there are some words that just don't stick.

I think early school experiences are definitely relevant - my Mum's early family life is probably best described as chaotic, so she didn't attend school much in her primary years, and DH spent part of his childhood in the States, so different spellings for lots of words.