Today’s EyeEdit Tip: To detect writing errors, read work aloud or have someone else read your work.

Spell-check  will pick up only some typos, grammatical mistakes, and awkward sentences. The poem below shows how unreliable spell check can be.  How many words did your spell-check program underline?

Owed to a Spelling Chequer

Eye have a spelling chequer,
It came with my Pea Sea.
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss Steaks I can knot sea.

Eye strike the quays and type a whirred
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am write oar wrong
It tells me straight a weigh.

Eye ran this poem threw it,
Your shore real glad two no.
Its vary polished in its weigh.
My chequer tolled me sew.

A chequer is a bless thing,
It freeze yew lodes of thyme.
It helps me right all stiles of righting,
And aides me when eye rime.

Each frays come posed up on my screen
Eye trussed too bee a joule.
The chequer pours o’er every word
Two cheque sum spelling rule.

The original version was written by Jerrold H. Zar in 1992.

Your spell checker exercise

Some spell-check programs may be more sophisticated than others. What does your spell-check program tell you about the sentences below?

  • I notices that Barry was very exited inn hiss knew job.
  • My assistance took my advise to where suites to advance there carrier.
  • She was great full for her friend’s incites.
  • He was two busy to notice who’s money was on the table.

Answers

Proof reading would produce these changes:

  • I noticed that Barry was very excited in his new job.
  • My assistants took my advice to wear suits to advance their careers.
  • She was grateful for her friend’s insights.
  • He was too busy to notice whose money was on the table.

For further information, please see:

1.  Spell Checker put you under a Spell,  EyeEdit blog at http://eyeeditonline.com/2010/05/spell-check-put-you-under-a-spell/

2. 10 Common Errors “Spell Check” Won’t Catch at http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/10-common-errors-spell-check-won-t-catch-2039083/

Happy writing,

EyeEdit Team

Copyright 2010 EyeEdit. All rights reserved.

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