You might think that spell check technology would make us less likely to care about developing our spelling abilities. But, since its widespread adoption in the mid-1980s, participation in the Scripps National Spelling Bee is up 74 percent.

The crack spellers are doing last minute studying in Washington, DC today and 65 percent of this year's participants are public school students. (Five of the last six national champions are, too.)

To watch them in action, check out this year's championship match on ESPN on tonight.

(READ the full story by Liz Dwyer)