Spellchecker won’t help you
Some of the funniest mistakes we read online appear to be the result of too much dependence on Spellcheckers. Writers scan their work quickly and, not seeing any red underlines, assume all is well. But the writer, a human, has to be smarter than the Spellchecker, a machine.
The word you type might be spelled correctly, and it might also be the wrong word. Isn’t that when the Grammar checker steps in? Don’t count on it.
In just the past week I’ve read these gems online:
He always had such a good since of humor … (sense of humor)
She’s dreaming of a ball gown, covered with glittering sequence … (sequins)
We can’t use that material because it’s copy written … (copyrighted)
The house is located on a shady boulevard with flowers planted in the medium … (median)
No other brand offers the breath of options that we do … (breadth)
It’s baffling that so many people who claim to be (or want to be) writers express themselves badly in social media and other web-based outlets. Perhaps it’s because there’s no oversight and anything goes.
Articles about celebrities are the most appalling … not because of their content alone, but because of the misuse of common words. And in opinion pieces, the number of third-grade errors is often directly proportional to the vehemence of their prose. Does it really matter? I mean, if people get the gist of what you’re trying to say?
Suggestion: If you want to persuade the world to accept your point of view, make sure your writing doesn’t repel them with silly mistakes. Even if Spellchecker doesn’t flag them.
It’s doubtful that any literate person will be swayed by this Spellchecker-approved argument:
If you’re opinion is that they’re candidate is better then mine, were going to have too disagree. Their isn’t enough space two explain why your so wrong. It’s to bad but there so dumb were just on different sides.
The sentiment might have merit (and nothing was flagged as misspelled), but I would stop reading after the third word.
The lesson? Read, think, remember your third-grade teacher … and if in doubt, look it up.
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