During every job interview I have had in life I have been asked, "What do you feel your worst quality is?" To this, I usually respond in one of two ways.The first option involved being honest and blurting out, "I am a part of the spell check generation." I continue to explain that I did not learn how to spell when I was in grade school. I learned how to find the spell check option on the typewriter or computer that I was using.The second option was much more sly and was designed to make me look better in the eyes of the interviewer. In this option, I explain my "time paranoia."To me this means I have an overanxious obsession with time. I always leave early, yet think I will be late. I never feel I will have enough time to get things finished so I try and get projects done as fast as I can. I go on to explain that the paranoia is so intense it usually annoys people around me.Most potential employers respond to this by saying, "Well, now … That is not necessarily a bad quality."Inevitably, I break down at that point and admit the fact that I have no idea what order letters need to be in to make words.Until my job began at the paper, this flaw in my brain has not really been too much of a problem. I have always had the time and ability to use spell check to help my written correspondence make sense. Unfortunately, in the newspaper business I am having a difficult time figuring out how to use the spell checker to my advantage — and it shows.On Wednesday morning I got to Tollefson Publishing in Luverne to put the Hills Crescent together on the computer. This is a pretty easy task — a lot like putting together a puzzle. Most of the stories have already been written, edited and proofread. I just put them in the right order.As I am putting the pieces together, I have to add headlines, captions, drop quotes (those neat quotes that pop out of the page when you look at a story) and headers (such as engagements, obituaries, At Home in Hills). It is in the typing of these items that my spelling skills are put to the challenge.It is not that I cannot spell classifieds, it is just that my fingers try to type so fast that my eyes think all of the letters are there and in the correct order when they are not.Time paranoia meets my spelling issues.In the printing business, errors can haunt you.Typically, after I think I have finished laying out the paper, I send it to press in Worthington and do not see it again for 19 hours.Thursday morning when I arrive at work, the first thing I do is pick up the paper to see how that week’s creation looks. Now if I have misspelled something or made an error with a photo or caption, I see it at this moment and realize that everyone who looks at the paper this week will see it as well.I envision people walking to their mailboxes, bringing the paper back to their breakfast table and making a game out of finding my errors. In addition, at this time, after the papers have been printed and delivered, there is nothing I can do about it.Last week I misspelled "drian" in a quote on the front page. I read the quote several times and never noticed. The letters were all there, it looked like drain. Unfortunately, people with a talent for spelling, like my husband, looked at the paper for no more than 15 seconds before finding the error.At this point I am sure my readers are wondering why I don’t spell check the paper before I send it to print. That is a good question, but I have good reason not to.Spell check does not like 95 percent of the names used in this area and stops on every instance of Hills, Steen, Beaver Creek that I type. Therefore, spell check becomes an arduous task that wastes a lot of my time.On those mornings, I usually feel bad for a few minutes until I remember an e-mail I once received. I have copied it below for my readers to enjoy."I cnat blveiee taht I can aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I am rdgnieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe."So, according to smart people at Cambridge University, I do not even need to worry about my spelling, because my readers are smart enough to figure out what I am trying to say, regardless of how badly I butcher the English language. Amzanig, huh? Yaeh, and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt!Story ideas or comments can be emailed to Lexi Moore at lexim@star-herald.com or called in at 962-3561.