(Newser)
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You can stop studying those dictionaries, prospective journalism students at UNC, because the school has finally acknowledged the existence of spell check. The University of North Carolina school of journalism has officially retired the spelling portion of the spelling and grammar test all students must take, reports the Daily Tar Heel (as spotted by Jim Romenesko's blog). It's the first change to the test since the 1970s.
"What we’re trying to do is just make the exam more relevant for today’s journalism and mass communication students," a senior associate dean said. In place of the spelling section, the school will substitute a word usage section designed to emphasize mistakes computers are less adept at catching. "Spell check can tell you whether 'their' is spelled correctly, but not if it's the right word," one associate professor explained.
