Spellcheck

[Tigersman]

I have seen all too often authors over relying on spellcheck to make sure their spelling is correct. All spellcheck does is tells the author if the word they used is spelled correctly. It does not tell the author that the word they used is in fact the correct word. An example is using "waste" when they meant "waist." Every author should keep an old-fashion dictionary by their side, not to check the spelling solely but to check the definition of the word they are using. If the definition does not match what the author is trying to say, then the author needs to ask someone how to spell the word.

 

[Darkniciad]

Most likely preaching to the choir here.

I even have a series making fun of errors like this. The waist/waste mistake has been the butt of those jokes many times.

When it comes to the stories you see with those errors on Lit, you're probably not going to get much in the way of a response from the authors, and as likely to get snark or open hostility as you are a thank-you.

It's one of those things that you either have to overlook, or back-click if you're incapable of enjoying a story with such errors. Many authors posting here aren't looking to learn anything. They just want to share their fantasies.

 

[robertreams]

I have seen all too often authors over relying on spellcheck to make sure their spelling is correct. All spellcheck does is tells the author if the word they used is spelled correctly. It does not tell the author that the word they used is in fact the correct word. An example is using "waste" when they meant "waist." Every author should keep an old-fashion dictionary by their side, not to check the spelling solely but to check the definition of the word they are using. If the definition does not match what the author is trying to say, then the author needs to ask someone how to spell the word.

Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plane lea marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word
An weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the air or rite
Its rare lea eve or wrong.

Eye halve ran this poem threw it
I yam shore your pleased two no
Its ladder perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew

 

[Boxlicker101]

Never trust Spell check. It will catch typos and other errors, but only if those mistakes are not a valid word.

Don't trust Grammar Check too much either. Sometimes it misses errors and sometimes it catches a non-existent error. If I say something like "Her nipples and clit were..." Grammar Check will tell me I should say "Clit was."

 

[sr71plt]

It's good to use spellchecker as just one of a couple of cuts at possible spelling problems. I suggest just turning grammar check off, though. It's designed for technical nonfiction construction, not fiction.

 

[Handley_Page]

Never trust Spell check. It will catch typos and other errors, but only if those mistakes are not a valid word.

Don't trust Grammar Check too much either. Sometimes it misses errors and sometimes it catches a non-existent error. If I say something like "Her nipples and clit were..." Grammar Check will tell me I should say "Clit was."

It's good to use spellchecker as just one of a couple of cuts at possible spelling problems. I suggest just turning grammar check off, though. It's designed for technical non-fiction construction, not fiction.

Up to a point, I'd agree.
But Word 97 (yes, THAT OLD) had a setting for the type of document (the style gallery), Business, Legal, and, I think it was called, 'contemporary'.

I get really pi$$ed off with Word 2003 telling me that the word "Waitress" should be changed for 'Server' and so on.
But then, it's no good thinking that the millions of authors out in the big wide world could ever influence Bandit Bill and his successors, is it? They only think in terms of American (big) Business.

 

[slyc_willie]

Never trust Spell check. It will catch typos and other errors, but only if those mistakes are not a valid word.

Don't trust Grammar Check too much either. Sometimes it misses errors and sometimes it catches a non-existent error. If I say something like "Her nipples and clit were..." Grammar Check will tell me I should say "Clit was."

Yeah, I don't need a computer program making mistakes for me. I make enough on my own.

 

[sr71plt]

Up to a point, I'd agree.
But Word 97 (yes, THAT OLD) had a setting for the type of document (the style gallery), Business, Legal, and, I think it was called, 'contemporary'.

I get really pi$$ed off with Word 2003 telling me that the word "Waitress" should be changed for 'Server' and so on.
But then, it's no good thinking that the millions of authors out in the big wide world could ever influence Bandit Bill and his successors, is it? They only think in terms of American (big) Business.

They may have claimed they had fiction covered, but it's obvious that no one at Microsoft setting up spellcheck had actually written any fiction.

 

[Weird Harold]

Don't trust Grammar Check too much either. Sometimes it misses errors and sometimes it catches a non-existent error. If I say something like "Her nipples and clit were..." Grammar Check will tell me I should say "Clit was."

Never name a character Frank if you're using a grammar checker. That said, I find grammar check extremely useful because if it is confused, often a reader will be as well.

Unwelcome checks, such as gender-neutrality, can be turned off, and (although Ive never invested the time) new checks can be added to suit your common errors -- eg Word's grammar check can be configured to ask about every occurrence of a homonym to ensure you double check the right word is used.

 

[TxRad]

Up to a point, I'd agree.
But Word 97 (yes, THAT OLD) had a setting for the type of document (the style gallery), Business, Legal, and, I think it was called, 'contemporary'.

I get really pi$$ed off with Word 2003 telling me that the word "Waitress" should be changed for 'Server' and so on.
But then, it's no good thinking that the millions of authors out in the big wide world could ever influence Bandit Bill and his successors, is it? They only think in terms of American (big) Business.

See if you have spell check set to an American dictionary instead of an English one.

 

[Weird Harold]

See if you have spell check set to an American dictionary instead of an English one.

Gender neutral checking is part of the grammar check; changing dictionaries won't fix that. It can be turned off in the grammar check configuration (which moves around depending on which version of Word is used. )