Cna Yuo Raed Tihs?
A few weeks ago I got an email (thanks BM) that at first looked like a criptoquote. I looked at it again and to my amazement it was something a little different. This gave me time to pause and think about how the human mind works.
fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mta etr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it
The funny thing about it I could read this without ANY problem. Not sure that means I am a poor speller or my mind works in a very odd way.
Note: to my knowledge, no one at Cambridge actually conducted a study…but it’s still fun anyway.
- Could you read it?
- What does that tell you about the human brain?
- Did you enjoy the exercise?
I look forward to hearing your comments.
August 15th, 2008 at 9:36 am
i could read every word just like it was normal. very strange. it probably took you longer to write it than it did for me to decipher it.
August 15th, 2008 at 9:59 am
When you sent the title, I actually thought the topic was on kids texting. I am forecasting shocking resumes and cover letters sent to HR departments around the world as texting sinks in as a real medium of communication. In fact, I know my 16 year old would rather ‘talk’ via text than via phone - which I am sure is not too unusual.
Back to your question - yes read with ease!
August 15th, 2008 at 11:22 am
There was a study performed years ago - unfortunately I cannot remember where -
The study identified that as long as the first and last letters of the words are accurate, and the correct letters are jumbled in the middle, our brains can complete it the word.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I was able to read it, and I AM a little scared by it. Pretty cool! Deos tihs maen I no lngeor hvae to cechk my spllieng for tihs bolg?
August 15th, 2008 at 11:39 am
That is too funny!
Interesting enough I could read the whole thing and the one word that gave me pause, was the word (matter) as they had a space in there, which made me hiccup for a second but recoup and read right through.
The word association seemed seamless.
Tanhk yuo Mellrir!!!!!!!
Fee
August 15th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I thought this was really interesting and also read it with ease. Great post!
August 15th, 2008 at 11:47 am
This exercise almost falls into the optical illusion realm. I believe it is more a case of spatial relationship and the ability of the mind to rearrange letters on the fly without even processing on a conscious level. It is easy to read despite the gross rearrangement of characters.
It will be interesting to note if anyone “confesses” difficulty in reading it.
August 15th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Lanec,
geatr question - srue.
Enjyo teh wekened.
Meririll
August 15th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I love this. I actually used it several years back as a teaching tool about why proofing client deliverables required so much care and diligence.
August 15th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Bruce,
After reading some of the comments - I was wondering the same thing if anyone would respond with “I can’t read it”.
Merrill
August 15th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Elliot nailed this one. There was actually a similar study where people read a short story backwards (conclusion, plot, and lastly the introduction). They found that people were actually more proficient in answering questions correctly about the short story. After reading about that study, I’m hoping to learn by osmosis…
August 15th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Olleh Llirrem.
Ton ylno did I dnatsrednu tahw ouy etorw, I thguoht ouy erew gnikam nuf fo em.
ekaT eraC llirrieM!!!!
August 16th, 2008 at 6:28 am
I never did like spell check - takes all the challenge out of things!
Work with teens and millenials shows that texting takes full advantage of this. The brain figures out context as well. Amazing that thing on our shoulders.
I love this stuff - if only we could write our reports this way.
August 16th, 2008 at 6:30 am
And Willie’s post above mine is so much harder to figure out - wild stuff.
August 16th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Steve
You are so right. I actually had trouble reading Willie’s as well. After awhile i was able to figure out the backward pattern
Enjoy the weekend
Merrill
August 18th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Two observations. First, it shows why it is so hard to proofread a document. The spelling does not jump out at you when you can understand it. Secondly, it should point out how speed reading works. You don’t need to read every letter and certainly don’t need to read every word.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
This is great - I’m a sucker for these kinds of things!
I also was able to read this quite fluidly…. even though I suffer from mild dyslexia…
But I say - dyslexics are teople poo!
Krista
August 21st, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Glad you enjoyed the “script”….I just forwarded you a public school exam from 1895(check date on the mail).
I think you will find this some information archaic./ of little value in todays world, but on the other hand ……wow!!!!!
Neene
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I lkie it but it cluod be btetr. I lkeid it tguohh.