Spell checker limitations 4

[dgillz]

It always helps to read your email before you send it, even with spell checker revealing no errors. We have all seen people in writing say "there" when the word should be "their", or "your" instead of "you're".

I just got bit in the rear by the comment "Can you [red]seethe[/red] the crystal icon?"

Of course "seethe" should be "see the" but "seethe" is a word, and spell checker did not notify me of this, and I looked like an idiot.

What is the most outrageous example of a word, phrase or sentence that passed spell checker you have ever seen? Is there any way to add such words to a red list so spell checker will warn you, even if it is a real word? Sort of an anti-dictionary?

All feedback welcomed.

Software Sales, Training, Implementation and Support for Macola, eSynergy, and Crystal Reports

http://www.gainfocus.biz

"A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
" - unknown

 

[flapeyre]

A Little Poem Regarding Computer Spell Checkers...

Tibi gratias agimus quod nihil fumas.

 

[dgillz]

Classic flapeyre.

Software Sales, Training, Implementation and Support for Macola, eSynergy, and Crystal Reports

http://www.gainfocus.biz

"A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
" - unknown

 

[KornGeek]

As I mentioned in another thread recently, I was deeply embarassed to find out that I had sent a specification to a customer describing how their asset tracking software would allow the to "transfer asses".

Apparantly, they all got a good laugh at my expense at their review meeting. Fortunatly, nobody was offended, and only my pride was injured.

 

[KenCunningham]

Well, KornGeek, at least you'd done the donkey work for them. ;-)

I don't mind people who aren't what they seem. I just wish they'd make their mind up.

 

[Welshbird]

Mine isn't very amusing, but FORM and FROM always get mixed up. I guess I should learn to type.

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[sha76]

I always seem to type incidently incorrectly, but in such a way that spellchecker picks it up as indecently. I have been a bit too quick confirming the change in the past!

"Your rock is eroding wrong." -Dogbert

 

[Glenn9999]

Of course the problem here is that people rely on spell checkers a little bit too much. Good thing though, that a lot of English classes are starting to recognize that and start to hit people over the head with it.

Even in a college placement test for English that I took, I had to proofread a section of text that would have passed through a spell checker without a single warning (though it was loaded with errors).

Of course, the lesson needs to extend out to the current word processor using populace. I even see those kinds of errors in journalism every once in a while. The latest instance: "Two weeks have been reserved for the trail of (insert man's name here)."

What?!?

 

[xwb]

The Ode to the spell checker is taken from two sources. The first two verses are from "Ode to the Spell Checker
by Senior Editor, Briston Classical Press". I don't know where the second two are from but it is missing "Sauce Unknown"

 

[IknowMe]

Despite the shortcomings of the modern spell checker, I assure you my writings definately receive more help than harm from their use.

A large percent of my typing errors are an omitted character or transposition and it handle's these very well in my opinion.

Although now you have me thinking, I'm only seeing the ones it catches and should probably be more thorough in manually verifying the correctness.

Wow, I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time.
I think I've forgotten this before.

 

[SantaMufasa]

MrMilson, you definately () did not receive the help you needed this time from a spell checker. <grin>

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[columb]

I suffer badly from an inability to spell. Here the spell checker is my best friend. I don't suffer from the their/they're problem but I couldn't, for the life of me, tell you with any certainty how many esses in possible.

The point I'm getting at is not just that my stuff goes out with fewer errors, but far more importantly, I'm learning. Every time the spell checker picks up 'posible' as an incorrect spelling (and I do hope I've got this the right way round!) it reinforces that I've got it wrong.

For the first time in my life I can be reasonably confident about tomorrow (another bad one for me)!

On the other hand I have no spell checker for web pages and the number of oops that have slipped through in this forum...

Ceci n'est pas une signature
Columb Healy

 

[IknowMe]

Just getting the point across seems an acheivement in itself for me at times. Perhaps sometime in the future (distant) I'll be able to contribute something more than just my opinions to MIA. Until then I'm more than happy to be corrected while learning from the likes of yourself.

Perhaps in a perfect world spell checkers would be more like script compilers, they seem to understand their prefered syntax quite well, and have no problems hindering my progress until my typing is acceptable. Of course it may be a bit over the top having to first declare all the words &quot;your&quot; intending to use.

Wow, I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time.
I think I've forgotten this before.

 

[Lunatic]

Personally, I find spell-checkers a necessity. However, they also infuriate me. I find I have to google many of my mispelled words in order to find the correct spelling because the way I spell the word is only off by one letter but the spellchecker must assume that one letter is so vital to the word that anyone who omits it must be meaning to spell something else.

***************************************
Have a problem with my spelling or grammar? Please refer all complaints to my English teacher:
Ralphy "Me fail English? That's unpossible." Wiggum

 

[pinkgecko]

I hate weird. I before E except after C, unless it's in a skein of weird words. It drives me crazy too because the sound isn't right in my ears. Probably infuriating to the person who thought Erin and Aaron should be pronounced differently.

I also hate the word conshus. I'm not even going to try to spell it. I work part time transcribing injury reports, so people always ask if the injured person was conshus at the time. Can't you just say awake? Make it easier on me!

 

[Gooser]

Mr Milson, you mispelled MAI in your last post.

v/r
Gooser

 

[IknowMe]

Wow, I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time.
I think I've forgotten this before.

 

[Lunatic]

Don't feel too bad MrMilson...

I once sent a thank you for the interview e-mail for a project known by its Acronym. The problem was the Acronym is also a real word, but spelled differently - which, even capitalized, the spellchecker in the e-mail program I was using was kind enough to correct.

Needless to say, I was very embaressed when the Project Director (who rubs elbows with bigwigs in Washington DC) sent a reply highlighting my mistake...

Somehow I still ended up with the job.

***************************************
Have a problem with my spelling or grammar? Please refer all complaints to my English teacher:
Ralphy "Me fail English? That's unpossible." Wiggum

 

[SantaMufasa]

So, Lunatic, are you going to leave your goof up to our imaginations, or do you plan to let us in on the fun? <grin>

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[flapeyre]

The contractor who fixed up my house had subcontracted with an electrician named Brian. Apparently, somehow his auto-correct changed "Brian" to "Brain". I told my contractor, yeah, the electrician is a pretty smart guy, but...

Tibi gratias agimus quod nihil fumas.