How do you recoginze words?

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I don't know if this is the standard way, but I recognize a word on the geometric shape, so I can see that a word is spelled wrong, but not why, I just see it's unfamiliar to me. This allso makes it a little difficult to read new typefaces, the words looks "wrong", but are right.

How do you do it?

Funny, because i am the same way. That's also one of the reasons i have trouble retaining what i read. I tend to 'see' all the words, and would even catch any spelling mistakes, but they don't register unless i put in conscious effort to do so. Weird.

I have two distinct control mechanisms. I see the word as a whole as one unit, and I see every single letter in all words individually and in what positions they are in.

The latter is so specific that I seldom spell wrong while writing, unless I lack the knowledge about the correct spelling, or if I mistype on the keyboard. If I mistype, though, I'll notice it almost immediately. A nice benefit is that different fonts don't have any impact on my abilities.

If I was ever taught that a word is spelled in a specific way, I'll remember it forever and will use it consequently. But I also have the ability to quickly relearn how a word is spelled if I eventually find I've always spelled it wrong and find the correct spelling in a reliable dictionary. If I'm unsure about the spelling of any word, particularly if it is in a foreign language (English for example), I'll immediately look it up.

I refer to myself as being the opposite of dyslectic.

I see a word as a whole. I have read zillions of books but I still can't spell well.

Sometimes (especially with Science Fiction) I can't be bothered even trying to pronounce the word. I just recognize it as a symbol.

(Aside: I am sure that you and I have read many words that we have never heard spoken. If we ever tried to use them in conversation I'm sure we would get them horribly wrong, which would make us look stupid)

By sight if I am reading, by sound if I am listening.

ruveyn

are you talking about

a) understanding the words you read based upon their general geometric shape?
or
b) how to correctly spell words you use because you remember the geometric shape of the word when you spell it?

i fit option b.

i rarely use any word unless i have read it somewhere and understood it's meaning.
i never use words i have only heard from other mouths unless i look up their meaning and confirm their suitability for inclusion into my vocabulary.

i know how to spell all the words i wish to use when i write. many words that i know the meaning of and can spell correctly, i can not pronounce correctly because i have never heard them spoken.

i do not learn words by listening.
i learn them by reading them. when i read them i get an indelible snapshot of how those words are spelled.

i use all the words i know how to spell to build the structure of my written responses.