Computer Spell Check Bites: Spelling/Grammar for the New School Year

Maybe I'm old school (or getting older), but spell check is not the same as proofreading.








II.  The Case for Brevity









I try to
get students to take “noisy words” out of their writing.  Many times when we speak in public,
we use filler words such as “Basically” or “Due to the fact that.”  Whether you realize it or not, we use those
words in speech to give our brain an extra millisecond to think about what
we’re going to say next.  I learned that
when I had a radio show.  With the written word, there is no need for filler:




Student version:

Basically, this case
is about…

My version:

This case is about…




Student version:

Due to the fact that
the plaintiff was injured…

My version:

Since the plaintiff
was injured…




III.  Phrases that Students Just Get Wrong




Tenant (tenet) of law

Woe (whim) of the
court




Legal principals
(principles)

The principle point
(principal)

Recover principle
(principal), court costs, and interest




IV.  The Case for Brevity (Part II)




Student version:

According to my
viewpoint, the case was pretty straightforward with the easiness of issue
involved between the parties.

My version:

In my view, the case
was straightforward, with easy issues facing the parties.




Student version:

The attorney briefly
insinuated the relationship of two of the board members and made it seem like
they had previously made a pact with each other.

My version:

The attorney
insinuated that two of the board members had previously made a pact.