Does Autocorrect Really Have a Negative Effect on Our Spelling?
From Google Docs to text messages, autocorrect is everywhere. As students, we take advantage of this tool, letting it quickly fix whatever it underlines in helpful blue or red squiggles. However, at what point do we lose the critical thinking skills to correct our own grammar mistakes? I asked this question when I realized that I had a harder time spelling on paper than on my Chromebook. I figured that there was no better person to help me find my answer than Mrs. Marino, a long-time 9th grade English teacher at CCHS.
After 28 years of reviewing student work, Mrs. Marino has formed a pretty concrete opinion on autocorrect that might surprise you: when used wisely, it can be a helpful tool. In her words,“as long as the person is noticing the difference and [spells] it right the next time, [...]I think autocorrect is actually a positive thing”. She went on to mention autocorrect’s ability to save time, admiring the quick solution it provides compared to the time lost if students were to look up words in the dictionary.
However, Mrs. Marino warns of a dangerous temptation that comes with autocorrect: when we hastily click on the suggestion. As soon as students stop trying to learn from grammar or spelling errors, using autocorrect becomes “really worrisome because it [cuts] out the whole thinking process”. Because of this, she urges students not to rely on autocorrect, concerned about its ability to rob people of critical thinking.
But why is spelling so important if computers do it for us? This is a tough question, but in reality, spelling is pivotal to how we communicate and function as human beings. It affects how we read, what grades we receive, and even how people perceive us. For example, kids learn how to read by recognizing the spelling of a word and connecting it to the message of the text, as “spelling is a visual code needed [...] to create meaning as a reader” according to Psychology Today. Additionally, as students there are projects and tests that are taken on paper, in which autocorrect might not be available. Spelling errors here could impact the grade you receive on that assignment. Lastly, studies done by Edublox Online Tutor and All About Learning Press show that good spelling generally increases a person’s confidence while writing, meaning it could help you make a lasting impression on people in a work or school environment.
In short, autocorrect is a valuable tool that can greatly benefit the efficiency with which we complete our work. However, we should keep in mind that it is here to assist us, not to replace the thinking skills we need to fix our own mistakes. Next time you do an assignment online, ask yourself this: am I really pausing to take a look at my mistake and its correction? This way, you can ensure that you are not letting this convenient tool erode your grammar.