The correct spelling is ridiculous, derived from the same root as ridicule – few people write redicule. I’ve seen this abomination in spelling become very common online recently. Maybe you have friends who pronounce it reee-diculous, but that doesn’t change the spelling. I never cease to be amazed at how many college educated people I know with not a prayer in the world of spelling simple, common words. Don’t even ask about writing coherent sentences. How do we turn out so many highly-educated people with so little ability to use our primary language, much less learn a second language? It’s so common that it’s ridiculous.
6 Responses to “"Rediculous" – Spelling word of the day”
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I have a really hard time spelling common words.
When I was growing up…. I would take the tests they make you take. I would do really well in everything (off the charts), except spelling.
Reading comprehension level: Junior in college
Spelling level: 4th grade
I am much better than I use to be. I am better through practice. It will never be my strength.
I try to always run the spell checker.
I actually appreciate that – the attitude of wanting to improve. I’m not trying to slam people who have a hard time spelling so much as the people who can’t spell and have no desire to improve. It’s almost as though they’ve written off spelling words correctly as something they don’t need to know. In virtually every profession, at some point in your career, poor spelling WILL catch up with you, and affect someone’s opinion of you (particularly in, say, a resume or cover letter). Spelling DOES matter.
I agree. I tend to spell check my blog less than I do email I am sending to a client.
You yanks can’t spell anyway
Color should be colour etc, etc
You can blame that one on Benjamin Franklin.
He simplified English and came up with a dictionary of simplified speelings.
At the time there was a bit of an anti-British sentiment….. something about taxes without representation… actually it was after that, but the sentiments still persisted long enough to change the English language a bit.
We may not be able to spell…. but you guys drive on the wrong side of the road.
)
I do appreciate your explanation of the etymology of the word. I am a highly educated intelligent person who normally spells quite well, especially since I am an engineer and they are notoriously bad spellers due both to less humanities classes and to a literal approach to things and frequent phonetic shortcuts. I was just called out for using this incorrect spelling. I do not use spellcheck in email because I use a lot of technical terms and acronyms that take too long to click through constantly. I use it if it is important. Important emails from me rarely include this insult anyway.
I do think you post is a bit harsh for this one word which is not a focus of English classes, unlike words that can be misinterpreted when spelled wrongly such as its, it’s, there, their, etc.
I did spell it phonetically in error, as in my local dialect it is pronounced ree-dick-you-lous.