IT TURNS out I’ve been spelling a couple of words incorrectly for my whole life.

But I’m going to take solace in the fact that almost everyone else in the audience at the Arts Centre yesterday lunchtime to listen to Simon Horobin also admitted to spelling them wrong.

The words in question are nerve-racking (there’s no w) and supersede (with an s, not a c). In my defence, Simon was quick to point out that there are some justifications for spelling each of the words ‘incorrectly’, and therefore they could be considered technically correct.

The author was stoking the debate on the importance of spelling and its place in today’s society while talking about his book, Does Spelling Matter?

From the etemology of words, suggestions of standardised (or should that be standardized – don’t be fooled thinking that -ized is an Americanism... it’s not always the case) spelling and discussion about whether youngsters really use text language, the talk was packed with information as well as a few laughs.

Simon also told the audience about one proposal to scrap the distinction between there, their and they’re... which drew gasps of horror and hisses of disgust from the audience.

It seems the town without a university really is a bit of stickler for correct spelling and grammar.