This may seem an odd question

[caslass]

As a youngster I was the best speller in my class. As an adult at work everyone and his mother came to me to clarify or not, there spelling. Now as I an getting older I have to check my own spelling, and it is often easy words. Is this just getting older or is my brain going into melt down.

[bibblebub]

If you are being serious then doing a decent crossword (e.g. The Times, both quick and cryptic) can provide the daily mental exercise that, in my experience, doesn't just maintain but even improves spelling over the years (so not an overnight fix).

I have a similar problem with mental arithmetic - never needed to even think of using a calculator for anything - but these days just relatively rubbish.I 'm sure the main obstacle to overcome is getting past the self-doubt that means one all but gives up without trying. Maybe I just need to find the appropriate daily exercise for that (Sudoku isn't the answer).

[karenmac60]

It's 'their spelling' - sorry ;)

[boxtops]

I agree, practice is good. We see so many odd spellings - especially if you text, like I do - that it's easy to forget how words should be spelled properly!

[joggerjayne]

The fact that you check your own spellings shows that you are still mindful of good spelling.

We all make a few typos when we hit the keys, and it is often the "easy" words in which the mistakes arise, because we don't give them any thought.

I don't think you have too much to worry about.

JJ x

[Eve]

I find this as well. My dad is an English teacher so it was drummed in from birth haha :)

I find using a computer so much doesn't help as I type fast and rely on auto spell check to get things out faster without having to think so much.

I find I always tend to type certain letters in certain words the wrong way round, unfortunately solicitor is one of them which is a shame as that is what I am! Bit ironic really!

Past and passed is one which has bizarrely started to confuse me recently! Daft as it never has before.

My brother and his wife do a lot of crosswords and sudoku and such as they read that keeping your brain active helps stave off things like Alzheimers and dementia.

I have to admit, I don't read nearly as much as I did, hardly ever read books for enjoyment anymore, don't do puzzles like crosswords like I used to and don't get a daily newspaper anymore as I watch Sky News instead or read it online.

Saying that I read a lot with my job.

Maybe the more you knew in the first place, the more you have to forget :) I guess our brains only have so much space!