mad jock:
One of the risks of setting yourself up in judgement over others is you risk making yourself look an idiot (as I know to my cost!).
Therefore, I have copied your latest post below and punctuated and spelt it correctly, just so we are all agreed on the standard about which we are arguing.
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It does matter, Antony.
All clearances are written in short hand so not much room there.
A typical written clearance from MAN would P1Y 4563.
Spelling does matter. Most information is passed on by written form so it's documented. If you write it down like a chump, everyone presumes you're a chump.
Bloody hell! One of the worst offenders for crap spelling and grammar is lecturing someone why you should make the effort!
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Now standing by for the brickbats about my own errors!
By the way, generally speaking from my own experience in NATS ATC, the inverse ratio of voice beauty to physical beauty seems to be the norm.