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San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
To win the Scripps National Spelling Bee, contenders must also master geography
OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Rudveep Randhawa's three kids competed in eight consecutive Scripps National Spelling Bees from 2016 to 2024, with four appearances by daughter Aisha and two each by daughter Lara and son Avi. Yet when Avi's spelling journey concluded in last year's semifinals, Randhawa, a pediatric endocrinologist who goes by 'Dr. Happy,' was decidedly grumpy. His gripe? At unexpected and critical moments, the spelling bee transforms into a geography bee. Scripps has begun relying on obscure geographical terms to winnow down the field of spellers in the later rounds. While the words are included in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary, they often don't follow familiar roots or language patterns, denying accomplished spellers of the tools they use to figure out which letters form the sounds of words they've never seen before. Along with SAT-style, multiple-choice vocabulary questions, geographical terms have altered the way spellers prepare for the bee, which began Tuesday and concludes Thursday at a convention center outside Washington. Mastering them can require an out-of-fashion skill: rote memorization. 'Geographical words can be super hard sometimes because there's no roots to break it down or sometimes you don't get a language of origin. It will say 'unknown origin' or the dictionary doesn't say,' said Avinav Prem Anand, a 14-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, who's competing this year for the fourth and final time. 'Basically, you have to memorize them because that's the only thing you can do.' Avinav put his preparation to use in Tuesday's preliminary rounds when he breezed through Sapporo, the capital of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. Others were not so fortunate: 12-year-old Eli Schlosser of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, heard the dreaded bell because he was unfamiliar with Terre Haute, the western Indiana city. He went with 'terrahote.' Last year, the Randhawa family of Corona, California, saw its decade-long spelling journey end when Avi misspelled Abitibi, the name of a shallow lake in northeastern Ontario and western Quebec. 'It's beyond the pale of what anybody would consider a reasonable geographical word, a small lake in Canada that not even my Canadian friends had heard of. Not even a top-50 size lake in Canada,' Rudveep Randhawa said. 'It's just bizarre. In all the years with geographical words, we had seen words of some significance, they may be capitals of smaller countries, or they may be some port city that had significance, things of that nature.' Yet for those who might find geographical terms unfair, Scripps has a message: Study harder. 'Per our contest rules, all words listed in Merriam-Webster Unabridged Online, except those that are labeled 'archaic' or 'obsolete,' are fair,' said Molly Becker, the editorial director at Cincinnati-based Scripps and a member of the panel that selects words for the competition. Scripps considers encouraging intellectual curiosity as part of the bee's mission, and if kids with designs on the trophy have to learn more geography in order to prepare, that's arguably a good thing. 'You never know what word will stand out to a speller and spark a lifelong interest or introduce them to a new concept,' Becker said. Longtime spelling coach Grace Walters, a graduate student in linguistics at the University of Kentucky, cringed at the memory of Abitibi. 'Geo is definitely something that is feared by spellers,' Walters said, calling it 'a daunting task to study.' 'But if geo is unfair because it doesn't have patterns, that would mean other categories like trademarks and personal eponyms and words of unknown origin would also be unfair,' she said. Some spellers embrace the challenge. Faizan Zaki, last year's runner-up who's competing again this year, was thrilled to hear Abitibi and Hoofddorp — a town in the Netherlands — in 2024 because he had seen those words before. 'There's actually a section in Merriam-Webster that is dedicated to just geographical words, so sometimes when I'm tired from studying normal words, I take a break and I browse through that list of geographical words that they have,' said Faizan, a 13-year-old from Allen, Texas. 'Pretty much, that's my life,' he said. 'But yeah, it's definitely enjoyable. I don't hate it or anything.' ___ Ben Nuckols has covered the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2012. Follow his work here.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
To win the Scripps National Spelling Bee, contenders must also master geography
OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Rudveep Randhawa's three kids competed in eight consecutive Scripps National Spelling Bees from 2016 to 2024, with four appearances by daughter Aisha and two each by daughter Lara and son Avi. Yet when Avi's spelling journey concluded in last year's semifinals, Randhawa, a pediatric endocrinologist who goes by 'Dr. Happy,' was decidedly grumpy. His gripe? At unexpected and critical moments, the spelling bee transforms into a geography bee. Scripps has begun relying on obscure geographical terms to winnow down the field of spellers in the later rounds. While the words are included in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary, they often don't follow familiar roots or language patterns, denying accomplished spellers of the tools they use to figure out which letters form the sounds of words they've never seen before. Along with SAT-style, multiple-choice vocabulary questions, geographical terms have altered the way spellers prepare for the bee, which began Tuesday and concludes Thursday at a convention center outside Washington. Mastering them can require an out-of-fashion skill: rote memorization. 'Geographical words can be super hard sometimes because there's no roots to break it down or sometimes you don't get a language of origin. It will say 'unknown origin' or the dictionary doesn't say,' said Avinav Prem Anand, a 14-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, who's competing this year for the fourth and final time. 'Basically, you have to memorize them because that's the only thing you can do.' Avinav put his preparation to use in Tuesday's preliminary rounds when he breezed through Sapporo, the capital of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. Others were not so fortunate: 12-year-old Eli Schlosser of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, heard the dreaded bell because he was unfamiliar with Terre Haute, the western Indiana city. He went with 'terrahote.' Last year, the Randhawa family of Corona, California, saw its decade-long spelling journey end when Avi misspelled Abitibi, the name of a shallow lake in northeastern Ontario and western Quebec. 'It's beyond the pale of what anybody would consider a reasonable geographical word, a small lake in Canada that not even my Canadian friends had heard of. Not even a top-50 size lake in Canada,' Rudveep Randhawa said. 'It's just bizarre. In all the years with geographical words, we had seen words of some significance, they may be capitals of smaller countries, or they may be some port city that had significance, things of that nature.' Yet for those who might find geographical terms unfair, Scripps has a message: Study harder. 'Per our contest rules, all words listed in Merriam-Webster Unabridged Online, except those that are labeled 'archaic' or 'obsolete,' are fair,' said Molly Becker, the editorial director at Cincinnati-based Scripps and a member of the panel that selects words for the competition. Scripps considers encouraging intellectual curiosity as part of the bee's mission, and if kids with designs on the trophy have to learn more geography in order to prepare, that's arguably a good thing. 'You never know what word will stand out to a speller and spark a lifelong interest or introduce them to a new concept,' Becker said. Longtime spelling coach Grace Walters, a graduate student in linguistics at the University of Kentucky, cringed at the memory of Abitibi. 'Geo is definitely something that is feared by spellers,' Walters said, calling it 'a daunting task to study.' 'But if geo is unfair because it doesn't have patterns, that would mean other categories like trademarks and personal eponyms and words of unknown origin would also be unfair,' she said. Some spellers embrace the challenge. Faizan Zaki, last year's runner-up who's competing again this year, was thrilled to hear Abitibi and Hoofddorp — a town in the Netherlands — in 2024 because he had seen those words before. 'There's actually a section in Merriam-Webster that is dedicated to just geographical words, so sometimes when I'm tired from studying normal words, I take a break and I browse through that list of geographical words that they have,' said Faizan, a 13-year-old from Allen, Texas. You heard that right: When Faizan gets tired of studying, he 'takes a break' by studying more. 'Pretty much, that's my life,' he said. 'But yeah, it's definitely enjoyable. I don't hate it or anything.' ___ Ben Nuckols has covered the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2012. Follow his work here.
Toronto Star
6 days ago
- Science
- Toronto Star
To win the Scripps National Spelling Bee, contenders must also master geography
OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Rudveep Randhawa's three kids competed in eight consecutive Scripps National Spelling Bees from 2016 to 2024, with four appearances by daughter Aisha and two each by daughter Lara and son Avi. Yet when Avi's spelling journey concluded in last year's semifinals, Randhawa, a pediatric endocrinologist who goes by 'Dr. Happy,' was decidedly grumpy. His gripe? At unexpected and critical moments, the spelling bee transforms into a geography bee.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
To win the Scripps National Spelling Bee, contenders must also master geography
OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Rudveep Randhawa's three kids competed in eight consecutive Scripps National Spelling Bees from 2016 to 2024, with four appearances by daughter Aisha and two each by daughter Lara and son Avi. Yet when Avi's spelling journey concluded in last year's semifinals, Randhawa, a pediatric endocrinologist who goes by 'Dr. Happy,' was decidedly grumpy. His gripe? At unexpected and critical moments, the spelling bee transforms into a geography bee. Scripps has begun relying on obscure geographical terms to winnow down the field of spellers in the later rounds. While the words are included in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary, they often don't follow familiar roots or language patterns, denying accomplished spellers of the tools they use to figure out which letters form the sounds of words they've never seen before. Along with SAT-style, multiple-choice vocabulary questions, geographical terms have altered the way spellers prepare for the bee, which began Tuesday and concludes Thursday at a convention center outside Washington. Mastering them can require an out-of-fashion skill: rote memorization. 'Geographical words can be super hard sometimes because there's no roots to break it down or sometimes you don't get a language of origin. It will say 'unknown origin' or the dictionary doesn't say,' said Avinav Prem Anand, a 14-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, who's competing this year for the fourth and final time. 'Basically, you have to memorize them because that's the only thing you can do.' Avinav put his preparation to use in Tuesday's preliminary rounds when he breezed through Sapporo, the capital of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. Others were not so fortunate: 12-year-old Eli Schlosser of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, heard the dreaded bell because he was unfamiliar with Terre Haute, the western Indiana city. He went with 'terrahote.' Last year, the Randhawa family of Corona, California, saw its decade-long spelling journey end when Avi misspelled Abitibi, the name of a shallow lake in northeastern Ontario and western Quebec. 'It's beyond the pale of what anybody would consider a reasonable geographical word, a small lake in Canada that not even my Canadian friends had heard of. Not even a top-50 size lake in Canada,' Rudveep Randhawa said. 'It's just bizarre. In all the years with geographical words, we had seen words of some significance, they may be capitals of smaller countries, or they may be some port city that had significance, things of that nature.' Yet for those who might find geographical terms unfair, Scripps has a message: Study harder. 'Per our contest rules, all words listed in Merriam-Webster Unabridged Online, except those that are labeled 'archaic' or 'obsolete,' are fair,' said Molly Becker, the editorial director at Cincinnati-based Scripps and a member of the panel that selects words for the competition. Scripps considers encouraging intellectual curiosity as part of the bee's mission, and if kids with designs on the trophy have to learn more geography in order to prepare, that's arguably a good thing. 'You never know what word will stand out to a speller and spark a lifelong interest or introduce them to a new concept,' Becker said. Longtime spelling coach Grace Walters, a graduate student in linguistics at the University of Kentucky, cringed at the memory of Abitibi. 'Geo is definitely something that is feared by spellers,' Walters said, calling it 'a dauting task to study.' 'But if geo is unfair because it doesn't have patterns, that would mean other categories like trademarks and personal eponyms and words of unknown origin would also be unfair,' she said. Some spellers embrace the challenge. Faizan Zaki, last year's runner-up who's competing again this year, was thrilled to hear Abitibi and Hoofddorp — a town in the Netherlands — in 2024 because he had seen those words before. Wednesdays A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future. 'There's actually a section in Merriam-Webster that is dedicated to just geographical words, so sometimes when I'm tired from studying normal words, I take a break and I browse through that list of geographical words that they have,' said Faizan, a 13-year-old from Allen, Texas. You heard that right: When Faizan gets tired of studying, he 'takes a break' by studying more. 'Pretty much, that's my life,' he said. 'But yeah, it's definitely enjoyable. I don't hate it or anything.' ___ Ben Nuckols has covered the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2012. Follow his work here.
Buzz Feed
26-04-2025
- Buzz Feed
Can't Deal With Your Phone's Tiny Keyboard? You Need This Game-Changing $30 Tech Purchase
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Can't deal with your tiny phone keyboard. This tool turns phones and tablets into mini laptops, reviewers say. Typing out a long email on your phone's little touchscreen can be laborious. ('Just can't abide those tiny keyboards,' as one person put it.) Yet lugging around a heavy laptop on vacation in case you need to type is no good solution if you're trying to be less attached at the hip to your computer. One pivot I'm increasingly drawn to — and which reviewers call 'one of my favorite Amazon purchases of all time' — is ditching the computer for a portable Bluetooth keyboard. Slim and convenient, this Logitech travel keyboard is 'phenomenal, really,' writes one reviewer, 'like having a small laptop.' The practical tool connects to three devices — like your smartphone or tablet — so you can flexibly type on the go without depending on a touchscreen or a computer you're sick of. Called the 'Swiss Army knife of keyboards," the accessory frees you up during travel or days off while still giving you the flexibility to do what you have to do. 'Using my thumbs to enter captions and text is tiring and clumsy. With this keyboard — which I use every single day now — I can easily prop my phone up in the designated space and type away. People ask me all the time what it is and where I got it,' said one reviewer. 'The last few trips I took I didn't even pack a laptop — the keyboard and my phone or tablet was enough,' wrote someone named Walter. 'I purchased this keyboard to use with my iPad mini as I travel, so I wouldn't have to carry my heavy laptop around,' another echoed. 'I use it with my iPad and it turns into a laptop basically when I'm at a coffee shop,' wrote Avi (another person, Leslie, called it their 'go-to coffee shop writing tool paired with iPad'). People especially appreciate how easy the tool is to use, even for folks who don't feel very tech-savvy. Amazon The keyboard is ready to use out of the box: It comes with two pre-installed AAA batteries so all you have to do is connect your device and get to it. 'This was so easy to setup even for this 72 year old lady with limited tech skills,' wrote Karen. Ample travel keyboard options exist, but 'as far as Bluetooth keyboards go, [this is] definitely the one to get,' reviewers say. For one, folks love the keyboard's built-in slotted cradle that holds your phone or tablet up as you type. 'Every other keyboard doesn't have this feature, meaning you have to buy a stand or bulky case with a stand,' explained a reviewer named Gideon. The keyboard's connectivity is also excellent, reviewers purport, saying it ' works spectacularly ' with no lagging while typing and ' seamless ' switching between your devices. Reviewers also appreciate that Logitech 'is a solid brand with a good reputation for quality products.' 'Logitech is a terrific choice for anything, really,' said another. The keyboard isn't the lightest one you'll find, but that's a good thing, reviewers note; the tool needs a little heft in order to securely hold a tablet or smartphone without tipping over. You can grab a travel case to go with it, too. Check out more reviews below: 'Currently using this product to write this review from my phone. I have trouble catching up with texts, especially with family and long paragraphs. I bought this to make texting on my phone easier. Opened the box and was using the product within 3 minutes. Works like a charm. Keys are a little sticky but its brand new gotta break it in. Highly recommend. Typing on the phone is annoying as hell for me, especially because I have large thumbs. This product did the trick! ' — Eastcoastmike 'I got this for my 88 year old mother so she could more easily use the keyboard for her iPad and iPhone - she found it intuitive to use and set up - and much easier than using the touch screen. Also she can use it as a stand to watch Netflix and video! - success- ordering another one for me!' — barry weinstein 'I've had this keyboard now for well over a year and it works great! I use it mostly with my cell phone and tablets, texting, email, etc. It's so much better than pecking at a little screen with your finger. Being able to touch type makes it even better to use. The batteries last and last. I very highly recommend it!' — Stan M 'As an avid writer I am constantly creating stories. I had been using my phone primarily because it's easier and more convenient to travel with and just downloaded google docs to keep up with writing. After months of hand cramps I decided to get this keyboard. IT HAS BECOME A PART OF ME! I don't go anywhere without it. I've used it continuously anywhere from 5-8 hours a day for about a year now and batteries and connectivity are still as amazing as day 1! The keyboard itself has a bit of weight so its stable on a desk and the keys respond very well. It's very convenient to type docs on my phone with it because I can answer a text, search the web, and keep writing with split screen on my phone and this keyboard. ' — Kaylen matos
