Today’s computerized and technological world may seem more efficient, but a cautious writer cannot rely on computerized spelling and grammar checks. Would you like to know why? Well, there are several reasons why we cannot rely solely on spell-check:
- Correctly spelled words. Frequently, writers use an incorrect word, but spell the word correctly. For example, “the project manger” versus “the project manager.” Since manger is spelled correctly, the spelling and grammar checker may not notice that the word manger should really be manager. Here is a quick list of commonly misspelled words your spell-check might not pick up.
- complement/ compliment
- compliant/ complaint
- filed/ field
- it’s/ its
- lose/ loose
- than/ then
- their/ there/ they’re
- to/ too/ two
- trail/ trial
- were/ where/ we’re
- Homophones. It has been a while since I have thought about homophones, but I do remember that homophones are words that are pronounced the same, but are different in meaning. Following are common homophones your spell-check might not pick up:
- there and their
- affect and effect
- capitol and capital
- too vs. to
- stare and stair
- their and there
- Acronyms. Spelling and grammar checks may stop at, or highlight acronyms, but spell-check will not know if the acronym is accurate. It is easy to transpose letters, or miss a letter altogether. Is it AARP or AAPRP?
- Commonly misused words. Frequently, all writers use the wrong words at the wrong time.
- Names. Spelling and grammar checks don’t always query names. Is it Lynda or Linda, Catherine or Katherine, Rasheed or Rashid?
Still not convinced about the value of human editors? Below are some passages. Cut and paste them into your word processing program (MS Word, WordPerfect, etc.). Then, run spell-check and see what happens.
Example #1
They’re know miss steaks in this newsletter cause we used special soft wear witch cheques you’re spelling. It is mower or lass a weigh to verify. How ever it can knot correct arrows in punctuation ore usage: an it will not fined words witch are miss used butt spelled rite. Four example; a paragraph cud half mini flaws but wood bee past by the spill checker. And it wont catch the sent tense fragment which you. Their fore, the massage is that proofreading is knot eliminated, it is still berry much reek wired.
(To see all the mistakes, visit http://www.cmiiw.com/mistakes.htm)
Example #2
Polution affects all of or environment water, air and land. Mankind is changeing the composition off our atmospher by the addition of greenhouse gases and the distraction of the ozone layer. These alterations can vause changes in the earths climate, effect human ealth and the growth of plants. Water is essential toall life on our planet but ure water is becoming a scarce and expensive commodity. Humans are polluting the vailable water supplies through the waste and chemicals from industry, agriculture and the home.. As the orld’s population grows an increasing amount of clen water is needed but more pollution is created! On land chemical pills, ridition from accidents such as Chernobyl and, most of all, out rubbish pollutes larg areas. Can we reduce these problems
(Adapted from http://www.burford.oxon.sch.uk/ks3ict/Year%209/WP_pollution_task.htm)
Example #3
Is it jest a myth that hour frost precedent shopped dawn a cheery tree? Scholars have rebated this store four ages, but to day wheel come to a definitive concussion.
(from: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/89855/why_you_cant_rely_on_spell_check_software_pg2.html?cat=3)
How well did spell-check work with the above examples?
Computerized spelling and grammar checks have saved me from major mistakes many a time. However, spell-checks are not as reliable as a good old-fashioned pair of eyes. So, before you mail, fax, or e-mail your resume or application, do more than run a spelling or grammar check:
- Read your entire document at least twice. First, read the document for understanding and organization. The second time, proofread the document for typographical errors.
- Read your entire document aloud. Reading a document aloud helps readers detect things such as run-on sentences, or confusing sentences.
- Ask at least one person to proofread your final copy. Two pairs of eyes are always better than one. Sometimes, other persons catch mistakes you did not realize you made.
Do one or more of the above BEFORE your document is seen by supervisors, clients, professors, or customers. Forgive the cliché, but you do not get a second chance to make a first impression count.
Copyright 2010 EyeEdit. All rights reserved.
Like