I think it’s attributable to the fact that spelling and grammar are not considered important in today’s schools.

Because people tend to use abbreviations all the time, they rarely, if ever, need to type out the whole word. This has carried over to emails and now generally on the web.

If they do use the spell checks available, the spell check will obviously allow their or there, since both are words spelled correctly.

The only way I can see spelling improving is if full words are used more often on the web and in emails. I can’t see it ever catching on with text messages, since it would take too long!!

Spelling and grammar ARE important. It is true that spell checking tools don’t pick up incorrect choice of word. But that’s not an excuse for lazy typing. People should review what they have typed before submitting it. The computer makes it easier to correct mistakes that it was in the days of typewriters.

Spelling and grammar are just not as important as they used to be. Part of this is because of the Internet, and I think part is that so many people these days speak English as a second language.