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Spellchecker Substitutions

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:58 pm
by iiipopes
OK, we've all been warned to check our text for context, because a spellchecker cannot distinguish between a letter that is addressed, "Dear Friend," from one addressed, "Dear Fiend."

So, I'm writing an email to a guy about my Miraphone, and the spellchecker wants to substitute "morphine" for "Miraphone."

Now, even though we all know, "Music is a drug," I still found that funny.

I also remember one that it did catch when I mistakenly typed "analize" instead of "analyze." Keeping in mind the intended audience of that particular document, I almost left it that way, but discretion being the better part of valor I corrected the spelling and went on.

How many out there have a great example of either a spellchecker trying to substitute in a word, or actually caught what could have been a significant gaff if not caught?

Re: Spellchecker Substitutions

Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:19 pm
by JB
iiipopes wrote:How many out there have a great example of either a spellchecker trying to substitute in a word, or actually caught what could have been a significant gaff if not caught?
Latenight; final "minor" revisions to complete the most recent draft of a grad school opus for review by my advisory committee. An unfamiliar computer; onboard dictionary not amended to include specific terms/names related to my work. This was at a time when I REALLY was not familiar with computers.

Far too tired to see straight. Brain on autopilot. Didn't read as accurately as I wish I had when the little box appeared onscreen. Hit "change all" inadvertently.

Spell checker changed every single reference to "Canadian Brass" to "Canadian Bras."

Committee, despite having some collective sense of humor, not amused.

Many years later, I still am.

Re: Spellchecker Substitutions

Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:24 am
by windshieldbug
JB wrote:Spell checker changed every single reference to "Canadian Brass" to "Canadian Bras."
Hey- be thankful; it COULD have changed "Favorite Things" to "Favorite Thongs"... :D

Re: Spellchecker Substitutions

Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:34 pm
by JB
windshieldbug wrote:
JB wrote:Spell checker changed every single reference to "Canadian Brass" to "Canadian Bras."
Hey- be thankful; it COULD have changed "Favorite Things" to "Favorite Thongs"... :D
"These are a few of my favorite thongs..."
I'll never hear that line of the tune the same way again! :D