I Forgot How to Spell

August 24, 2026

Over the past month or so, I have started to build a habit of journaling. One day while writing, I started to write a word and then stopped. The reason? I wasn't sure how to spell it. No big deal, let me Google it real quick and continue. However, in the next paragraph, I did the same thing. Okay, I don't like this. I know how to spell, right? Of course I do, but maybe there are a few words I need some help with. What I wanted to know, was, how did this happen? I learned how to spell in school and know how to read, so where did things go awry?

When looking up words to confirm how they are spelled, something caught my eye: These are results for ___? Ah ha! I don't need to know how to spell anymore. As long as I get close, Google will correct it for me without me even noticing. And even if I know I spelled something wrong, I rely on Google to fix it for me, knowing that it will. I had a hunch that this couldn't only be happening to me, but I wanted to see if there was any research on this that could give me more credibility for my poor spelling.

As I began to research, I learned that this example is part of Digital Amensia. Digial amnesia is the phenomenon where we forget things as a result of technology taking over. Just like forgetting how to spell, I also don't remember many phone numbers, birthdays, or other tasks. Another name for this is the Google Effect, where we forget information that we can easily find online.

As we develop literacy skills, we work through a process called orthographic mapping, where we store words in our long term memory and retrieve them later. When using tools like spellcheck, we reduce the amount of manual work that our brains go through, essentially skipping some of the parts of that process. As a result, students may begin to stunt the growth of their literacy.

While I found it comforting that I was not the sole person who is experiencing this, it made me reflect on how this might impact people in the future. I learned how to read and develop literacy skills prior to the internet being at our fingertips. But kids today are exposed to technology earlier than ever. This, in addition to the "literary crisis", spells trouble for the future.

If this makes you feel a bit uncomfortable, there are a few simple steps to help fight against digital amnesia. Go to the bookstore and pick out a book that catches your eye (yes, judge the book by its cover). Read to your kids if you have them and encourage them to read too. And when you Google something and you see that it is being corrected for you, take a second to see where you made the mistake. Hopefully, you won't make that mistake again.