English students at Oxford University are guilty of poor standards in spelling, says one of the institution's former lecturers.

Bernard Richards, who left Oxford last year after 25 years as an English lecturer at Brasenose College, has described the spelling mistakes as "alarming". In an attempt to make university authorities sit up and take action, Richards has circulated a 142-word list of common spelling errors made by students in English exams in 1995.

Some of the howlers on the list included "greatfully", "defineately", "separate", "econiamist" and "imoral". Moreover, Richards claims these sort of mistakes occur year after year by English students sitting university exams.

"In theory, these students should be some of the best in the university, and indeed the world, when it comes to spelling - but the facts prove otherwise.There is not much of a future for any language if it is left in the hands of the careless and the ignorant," said Richards in the Oxford Magazine.

The editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, John Simpson, suggested students should buy dictionaries.

Katie Ivans of the Campaign for Real Education says that Mr Richards' list is only the tip of the iceberg. She says teachers should go back to basics and stick to the 3 Rs.

But Education Consultant Keith Davidson says English is a flexible language, and spellings will naturally change over time. According to him we shouldn't get too upset about bad spelling and must accept changes such as american additions to the language.

Can educational establishments be blamed for failing to maintain good spelling? Is it up individuals to ensure that we preserve the language and safeguard its correct usage? Or is spelling an over-rated issue?

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