Why do people feel it necessary to correct someone's spelling rather than just answering the question?

Answer 1

This is a Wiki, and it's WikiAnswers. Aside from being the best of the Wiki Q&A's here on the web, a guiding principle behind its operation is that we can all contribute to a given question and answer. Correcting spelling as well a grammar and syntax in questions has an underestimated importance. If someone incorrectly spells a word in the question and another individual wants to correct the spelling, then that second individual can fix the spelling and leave it for someone else to answer. The individual saw a obvious spelling error, but may have had no idea what the answer to the question was. That spelling correction is valuable. It means that others searching for a similar question and spelling the words correctly will be more likely to find the question has already been posted. Each Contributor is allowed to add as much to a post (within guidelines) as he likes. Or as little! If a spelling correction is in order and a Wikian wishes to lend a hand with that small fix, then that is that Contributor's privilege. And by dent of numbers and continued effort, the rest of the Community will resolve any other issues with the question, and will eventually provide an answer.

Answer 2

The usual procedure to verify your spelling of a word is to look it up in a dictionary or thesaurus, to see if the spelling you are using is correct. If you cannot find the word under that spelling, asking it phonetically can sometimes receive a helpful response, providing the correct spelling and a meaning for that spelling.

All questions that ask how to spell a word, and use the correct spelling, should be answered only with "that is the correct spelling" and the meaning associated with that spelling.

Rude answers are totally unnecessary and violate the terms of use, and can result in permanent restriction from the site.