No Spell-Check = Few Reads
by
Robert Betts
(Age: 62)
copyright 05-19-2005
Age Rating: 7 to 127
One of the very best ways to be sure that no one ever bothers to read your writing is to show that you have taken minimal care with your work. Basically, this says that your readers are not important to you.
Failing to proof-read and spell-check is one of the best ways to show that you don't care. You can also telling your readers that you don't know how to spell (and are too lazy to learn) If you won't be bothered, then your readers probably won't either.
We have "Charlie" which is a spell-checker. But, let's be honest, many people are too lazy to look words up in a dictionary and if you haven't a clue how to spell a word, the dictionary is not much help anyways. God forbid, you may even be a writer who doesn't own a dictionary.
Charlie only points out mis-spelled words but offers no suggestions. He also cannot work on a new submission. Enter our new Spell-Checker. This one is quite sophisticated and offers suggestions. It also works a bit differently. It can spell check words that are in an input form before the form is submitted. Charlie can only examine words after the form is entered, during an edit.
Charlie is still useful, though. First he uses different dictionary and may find words that the new spell-checker misses. He also is available to the reader as well as the writer. Charlie doesn't care about MS Word smart quotes which confuse the new spell-checker. But there will be little need for MS Word now with the new spell checker. It works as well as MS Word.
To use the new spell checker: Enter your work and then click on the "Check Spelling" button. A box will pop up and check what you have entered, one word at a time and offer suggestions.
Proof reading is also very necessary. As I wrote this article I spell-checked. The new spell checker thought that 'bes' and 'nd' were perfectly good words.
One other alternative for you is to install an Internet Explorer spell checker. There is an excellent one here: www.ieSpell.com This has the advantage that it can be used at any site, not just PnP. You can also customize it by choosing English, Canadian or British dictionaries. You can also customize it in a number of other ways. If you use another browser shame on you. IE is the best, because many sites, including PnP, won't be bothered with the intensive effort required to make their site friendly to other browsers. Nonetheless, with other browsers this spell-checker may work by using a right mouse button click.
If you find someone is being lazy and not spell-checking, refer them to this article.
bob
9/2005 Note: The new Google toolbar also has a spell-check It's highly recommended (bob uses it) You can get the toolbar here: Google Toolbar
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Yes Bob, the new spell checker is great, as well as the one you download. Has helped me go over works I've posted in Blog entries and has picked up quite a few errors. Thank you so much :)
I tried pointing out spelling errors in other peoples work, but started thinking I was just being too picky. But then, if we are to be writers, spelling is important, right? I really wish people would double-check their work. I think the kids in this site do marvelous work, but their spelling is the worst.
Just a tip: I write my poems using Microsoft Word, then cut and paste them into the web site. Microsoft Word has a great spell-checker.
I found one comment funny.
You said 'English, Canadian, or British dictionaries.'
I'm Canadian and I know we're supposed to spell things a little differently here. We spell 'color' as 'colour' and 'honor' as 'honour' and so on, but I'm pretty sure it is still considered English. I know you meant to say 'American, Canadian, or British', but it just looked kind of funny the way you have it there.
As a point of interest, even though I was born and raised in Canada, I usually use the American spellings for words rather than the Canadian. I've actually written a book and a half-about 350 pages or so-and sometimes, even though I use the spell checker, I will occasionally reject the spell checker's version of a word for my own spelling. I'm just weird like that I guess. I know the spell checker is technically right, but I just like my spelling better.I guess I'm just a little too independant-explains why I get into trouble at work so often I guess.
See ya!
aaaah thanks sounds much better than me having to keep looking up words in the dictionary or opening up microsoft word (A) lol thanks for the idea bob
Emy
Thank you for the web address ieSpell.
I have downloaded it and tried it, it's great. I would recommend it to all who write.
I think we all owe a vote of thanks to Bob for all the time and effort he dedicates to PnP.
Thanks again, Brian.
This is great! I always try to tell them in a nice way. I am the worst at spelling. If they charged to use the dictionary I couldn't afford to write! Thanks for letting me know about this. This really was a good Idea! Anthony
Welcome !
