Spell Or Quell

For those who preach that "spelling doesn't count", read no further. You are hopeless. Spelling does count whether you can do it without a Webster's hanging around your neck or not. I'm not speaking of those who text, because that nonsense is about  convenience (I suppose)  which lives apart from reason. Texters make up their own rules and, don't get me wrong, that's perfectly okay. We have to remember that the rules of present day usage, came to us on a long road called the evolution and development of the English language. If we had to abide by the grammaticals of a few centuries ago, no one, now, would understand anyone at all. Language changes every day, but there are some current, set laws that do not. Maybe in a few centuries from now, it shall, but you and I won't be around to know about it. Here is the message. When you put something on a forum or a newsletter, a sign or in a letter, please, please, please read it before you post. Everyone makes the odd typo or slip of the key, but for the most part, things like incorrect spellings and sloppy grammar do you no good. When others read your words and come across the correct use or misuse of language, they peg you either as a dolt or a doctorate. You must know the difference between "it's" and "its", "two, to and too", "their, they're and there" and so on. They can detect immediately, these language faults. How about subject/ verb agreement: "he don't know better" or "he doesn't know better"? Which is correct?  I knew once, a fellow pedantic who writhed when I said, "he knows more than I" instead of "he knows more than me". He said it sounded pompous. I allowed his writhings because my "I" meant "I do" while he was grammatically correct, I argued that I was, too.  I am not sure still, if we see eye-to-eye on that issue. But that's a finer point. I am speaking of simple language and the use of it in writing or speaking. There is a perfectly lovely chap I know, who persists on letting  his stupidity hang out when he posts onto an on-line forum.  He loves to show that he is well off, good looking, widely traveled and held a sophisticated job before he retired. But when he posts, he looks like an idiot. His spelling and grammar are dreadful. Apparently, his previous work place either gave him a whiz of an executive assistant/secretary or his Spell Check worked overtime. He plops his announcements boldly and pathetically onto the site, and beams at himself while others are "aheming" in the background, not knowing where to look to hide their embarrassment for him. You don't have to be a PhD to be a good speller, but do check your writing before hitting "send". If you don't, you'll send old English teachers into the stratosphere and your friends hee hawing out behind the potted palm.