23e Make spell checkers work for you.
Research conducted for this textbook shows that spelling errors have changed dramatically in the past twenty years—and the reason is spell checkers. Although these programs have weeded out many once-common misspellings, they are not foolproof. Spell checkers still allow typical kinds of errors that you should look out for.
Common errors with spell checkers
- Homonyms. Spell checkers cannot distinguish between words such as affect and effect that sound alike but are spelled differently.
- Proper nouns. A spell checker cannot tell you when you have misspelled a proper name. Proofread names with special care.
- Compound words written as two words. Spell checkers will not see a problem if nowhere is incorrectly written as no where. When in doubt, check a dictionary.
- Typos. The spell checker will not flag heat even if you meant to type heart.
Spell checker use
To make spell checkers work best for you, you need to learn to adapt them to your own needs.
- Always proofread carefully, even after you have used the spell checker. The more important the message or document, the more careful you should be about its accuracy and clarity.
- Use a dictionary to look up any word the spell checker highlights that you are not sure of.
- If your spell checker‘s dictionary allows you to add new words, enter proper names, non-English words, or specialized language you use regularly and have trouble spelling. Be careful to enter the correct spelling!
- If you know that you mix up certain homonyms, such as there and their, check for them after running your spell checker.
- Remember that spell checkers are not sensitive to capitalization. If you write “the united states,” the spell checker won’t question it.
- Do not automatically accept the spell checker’s suggestions: you may end up with a word you don’t really want.
Spell Checkers and Wrong-Word Errors
TALKING THE TALK
“Can I trust spell checkers to correct a word I’ve spelled wrong?” In a word, no. The spell checker may suggest bizarre substitutes for many proper names and specialized terms (even when you spell them correctly) and for certain typographical errors, thus introducing wrong words into your paper if you accept its suggestions automatically. For example, a student who had typed fantic instead of frantic found that the spell checker’s first choice was to substitute fanatic—a replacement that made no sense. Wrong-word errors are the most common surface error in college writing today (see Chapter 1), and spell checkers are partly to blame. So be careful not to take a spell checker’s recommendation without paying careful attention to the replacement word.
Recognizing American Spellings
FOR MULTILINGUAL WRITERS
Different varieties of English often use different spelling conventions. If you have learned British or Indian English, for example, you will want to be aware of some of the more common spelling differences in American English. For example, words ending in –yse or –ise in British/Indian English (analyse, criticise) usually end in –yze or –ize in American English (analyze, criticize); words ending in –our in British/Indian English (labour, colour) usually end in –or in American English (labor, color); and words ending in –re in British/Indian English (theatre, centre) usually end in –er in American English (theater, center).
Homonyms
A relatively small number of homonyms—just eight groups—cause writers the most frequent trouble.
| accept (to take or receive)except (to leave out) | to (in the direction of)too (in addition; excessive)two (number between one and three) |
| affect (an emotion; to have an influence)effect (a result; to cause to happen) | weather (climatic conditions)whether (if) |
| its (possessive of it)it’s (contraction of it is or it has) | who’s (contraction of who is or who has)whose (possessive of who) |
| their (possessive of they)there (in that place)they’re (contraction of they are) | your (possessive of you)you’re (contraction of you are) |
If you tend to confuse particular homonyms, try creating a special memory device to help you remember the differences. For example, “We all complain about the weather” will remind you that weather (the climate) starts with we.
In addition, pay close attention to homonyms that may be spelled as one word or two, depending on the meaning.
Of course, they did not wear everyday clothes every day.
Before the six lawyers were all ready to negotiate, it was already May.
The director may be on time. But maybe she’ll be late.
For additional advice on commonly confused words, see the glossary of usage in Chapter 24.