TECH: Spelling check

Subject: Spelling check
From: Bud sherman
Date: 14 Apr 99 - 11:53 PM

Has it ever been determined how much we would have to cough-up so that a spell check could be available on this list? I, for one, am a poor typist, having learned, or more truthfully, became acquainted with typing by using a manual typewriter. One of the defects of that method is a tendency to hit the keys too hard, causing unintended double letters. Another of my typing flaws is that my fingers don't always strike the keys in the right order. I spend a third of the time I am typing messages on Mudcat correcting my spelling typos. The person who invented spell-checking for computers deserves canonization!!!

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: Alex
Date: 15 Apr 99 - 12:04 AM

SPELL CHECKER

Eye halve a spelling chequer It came with my pea sea It plainly marques four my revue Miss steaks eye kin knot sea

Eye strike a key and type a word And weight four it two say Weather eye am wrong oar write It shows me strait a weigh

As soon as a mist ache is maid It nose bee fore two long And eye can put the error rite Its rare lea ever wrong

Eye have run this poem threw it I am shore your pleased two no It's letter perfect awl the weigh My chequer tolled me sew.

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Apr 99 - 12:11 AM

BRAVO! ALEX! Well done!

Bud, if you check the threads I know there was info on how to use a spellchecker in here, I just cannot remember the name of the thread. No doubt someone else will and take pity on you.

Don't feel badly. I learned on a manual, just taught myself and I have found a lot of phoaks just don't worry about it in chat rooms and on discussion forums such as this. We every one of us have fingers that rush ahead of our thoughts and type too fast, so....

tipe a way!

katlaughing

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Apr 99 - 12:14 AM

Hi, Bud - you never know what magic Max will come up with so I guess we can't rule out the possibility of a spell checker. What I do, though, is type long messages like lyrics in a word processor and spellcheck them there. then I add the HTML line breaks <br;> by using search-and-replace, and then I highlight and copy the test (CTRL-C) and paste it (CTRL-V) into the reply box in the Mudcat Forum. It works very well, and it's a lot less cumbersome than having an online spellchecker.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 15 Apr 99 - 02:41 AM

One of our brethren at Mudcat gave us this link a long time ago. I use it every day for my email, and find it superior to the standard MS version. My only complaint (and I think that there was a warning about this) is hat it will delete attachments. Simple solution - do the text and spell check then add the attachments.

http://www.clever.net/quinion/mqa/spell.htm

Regards
John

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 01:09 AM

Spell checker is now at http://www.quinion.com/mqa/spell.htm

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: mack/misophist
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 02:56 AM

May I suggerst:

I keep a link to Mirriam-Webster on my desktop. But the fact is, none of us will ever learn to spell unless we jump in and take the risk. Dread errors. Then plow ahead and make them anyway. Shame will help you keep from making them twice.

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: Snuffy
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 09:02 AM

US or Britsh spelling? Won't please everybody.

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 09:06 AM

I use the same method as Joe.

While bad spelling may not bother those of you who just chat, it is a major pain for those who search for lyrics. Anyone who posts lyrics: PLEASE use a word-processor with a spell-checker. And please check the spelling of artists' names against some reliable source, such as an album cover or AMG/All Music Guide.

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 09:11 AM

American songs should be posted using American spelling. Songs from other English-speaking countries should use British spelling. That may not please everybody, but it pleases me.

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: Pied Piper
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 09:31 AM

I'm dyslexic; so a spell checker is a must for me. I just swipe/copy/paste into Word, spell check and swipe/copy/paste back here. Works fine for me.
Since I've been contributing to this forum the number of wavy red and green lines has reduced dramatically and my typing speed has doubled.
All the best PP

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: kendall
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 09:46 AM

Neither of those links work for me.

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: MMario
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 09:48 AM

spell checker

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 10:02 AM

Here's another one: Click Here. However, it works with IE and AOL browsers only, not Netscape, Opera etc.

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: Richie
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 10:17 AM

And then their are words that are spelled correctly that oar the wrong words!

Richie

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: Bobert
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 10:27 AM

Hmmmmm? Likes what's the problem here, folks. This ain't 'cause Johnny Poindexter snoopin' round, is it? Well, danged. When did we get so righteous and proud. Hey, far as Iz corn-cerned spellin' ain't it's all that its craked up to be. Takes a small mind to get so bogged down.

Okay, maybe we could just hang some pichers on the wall and vacuum out the joint to impress Johnny. Heck, he porbably cant spell worth a danged noways.

Thats my story an' I stickin' to it. Fir now...

Bobret

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: Mr Red
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 09:21 AM

I'm with the Word group - use a word processor though I have been known to load-up the SOED CD ROM when struggling. It has wild card searches and if you can spell a rhyme for it you can find it quick - like diarheor er diarear er OH! wwwwwwhere did I put the CDROM?

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 10:38 AM

here is a new one I just discovered the other day...check it out at http://hcidesign.com/freespell/

"

FreeSpell

Version 2.1

Platforms: Windows (all)

License : Free

Download Size: 2.6MB (download)

FreeSpell is a spell checker for any and all Windows applications. You can use it in Eudora, in Microsoft Outlook, Symantec Visual Cafe, and even in Windows Explorer when renaming files (though it's a little tricky to do that). Anything that supports the clipboard supports FreeSpell, and all it takes is a hotkey to invoke it. Just as important, FreeSpell is based upon the Aspell engine, which means it offers the best spell checker around for people with weak spelling skills (as well for people who just need a quick proofreader). Aspell is full featured as well, with a large default dictionary, and custom dictionary support.

Please note the name. This product is free. You and I deserve an easily accessible spellchecker for use with all applications, and that is why FreeSpell was written. This product will always be free - and that means no nags, commercials, or guilt trips. Spell checking should be built into the OS, and until it is, FreeSpell will provide it for you for free. The interface may not be the most pretty in the world, but the functionality is top notch."

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 11:25 AM

although the spell checker at hcidesign seems to work ok, it is an interface which calls a DOS routine, and may not be to everyone's liking...it requires an extra step or two and needs to be closed with a hotkey combo...

I still prefer the Quinion one which MMario linked to, and I have recommended for several years now...all it requires after you are finished typing in here is hitting alt/ctrl/F12 and spelling in this box is checked....no copying to clipboard, no opening Word or any other program....

Subject: RE: Spelling check
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 01:15 PM

Forget spell-checkers and use Webster's or Oxford. Just as quick if you have one by your computer.
Moreover, where spelling corrections are really needed are in the thread titles and song titles, which often incorporate a proper name or an obsolete word or word use. How do you spelchek a Gaelic or other word foreign to English?

Language in Mudcat is a curious mess of firmaty, a patcht coat of guidman's song. Spelchek would cry Waladay! and croak over words like this!

Subject: RE: TECH: Spelling check
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 03:16 PM

tsk, Q...spellcheckers are useful when you want them to be useful. Some want them, others, like Bobert, *grin* have little use for them.

The one MMario linked to (Quinion) works when you want it...and MUCH faster than running for Webster or Oxford! One always had the choice of leaving their 'quaint' spellings alone, and ignoring the spellchecker's suggestions.

Subject: RE: TECH: Spelling check
From: GUEST,Bill
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 07:22 PM

I often type the words of old songs also if you try to type with double line spacing and then insert the chords over the words spellchecker goes mad. will someone please find a way to stop it working on request.
Bill (the sound)

Subject: RE: TECH: Spelling check
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 07:42 PM

WHICH spellchecker?...some are on autopilot, some don't work until you ask them..

Subject: RE: TECH: Spelling check
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 Dec 02 - 10:54 AM

GUEST Q
Paper versions of dictionaries assume you can spell in the first place. So why have you never seen a dyslexic dictionary in print? Speak for itself dunnit.

I ain't never seen a dictionary that could handle wild cards that didn't have exe in the name. the SOED CD ROM has a rhymer and that helped me find diorhear er deiareer OH shit! that word.

Subject: RE: TECH: Spelling check
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Dec 02 - 10:07 AM

And paper dictionaries are helpful only when you KNOW that you don't know how to spell a word. They don't help catch those little inadvertent mistypings that everyone makes from time to time.

Sure, proofread your work, but proofreading with the help of a spell-checker is more effective and efficient than proofreading without one.

About chords in songs: My word-processor (Microsoft Word) accepts all single-letter capitals (A, D, G), I suppose because people used them so often in lists. ("Go to step G.") It will reject things like Bm and F#m, but you can fix that by clicking the "Add" button in the Spelling and Grammar window. Then Bm and F#m will be added to the file custom.dic and accepted as valid "words" in the future. Periodically you should open and edit the file custom.dic, and delete any words you disapprove of, especially if you have kids who use your word-processor!

Just for fun, here's what's in my custom dictionary right now: (I replaced the line breaks with commas.)

A.D., Afton, Albion, Anoka, Arden, Augsburg, Aussie, B.C., B.C.E., BMI, Bavarian, Bodleian, Breton, Brighton, Brit, Buick, Buren, C.E., CHO., Capercaillie, Ceilidh, Clare, Concordia, Cornwall, Deephaven, Devon, Dixon's, Donegal, Dubliners, Dunwoody, Garfunkel, Geordie, Gloucestershire, Hamline, Hennepin, Hibernian, JTD, Jericho, Jimmie, L.A., Lancashire, Limeliters, Lincolnshire, Londonderry, Lordy, Lyr., MIRUS, Macalester, Minnesotan, Minnetonka, Mountie, MusicTime, Normandale, Oakdale, Ozarks, Paddington, Personator, RCMP, Reagan, Req., Robbinsdale, Rockies, Scarborough, Shakopee, Shanachie, Shetland, Steeleye, Strathspey, Sulphur, Sweetie, Taliban, Tuva, Tuvan, Tuvans, USPS, Victrola, Webster's, Williams, Woodbury, Yazoo, ZIP+4, ahhh, another's, arse, bairn, barcode, blinkered, blowed, bodhráns, busker, celeste, congregants, copayments, darksome, demonize, dumbed, e'er, eh, filk, folkies, folksinger, folksingers, fro, goest, gonna, gwine, haired, hotline, hotline's, inkjet, jake, jellyroll, jugband, kine, laddie, laddies, limo, lo, maidenhead, many's, masturbators, memoriam, mommy's, moonshiner, ne'er, netiquette, newsgroup, nigger, notate, notated, notating, o'er, ostinato, pluckers, propos, raunchier, riffs, rounders, scratcher, singable, skiffle, sociopaths, sol, strathspey, subcategories, sweetie, tablature, thee, thou, thy, turd, uillean, vegan, website, websites, where'er, ye, yurts

You might not recognize all the proper names. Some are towns, software, brand names, etc. If a word is capitalized in the dictionary, it means it must always be capitalized when you use it.