I’m sure you must understand what I mean when I say spellcheck/autocorrect on my ipad and phone can be a real pain in the neck. But then I have mixed feelings. Spellcheck can also be a lifesaver. I use it every day in my communication.
Sometimes autocorrect changes the word I want to use (just like my editor does sometimes). It anticipates what I’m going to say as I’m dictating, which I do mostly rather than type. Frequently, it’s not the right substituted word. The problem arises when I don’t read it before I send it.
Seriously, I am a writer so what am I thinking when I do that? I guess I’m in a hurry or have trusted that dictation spellcheck thing, once too often. Then I will read it later and wonder, oh my gosh, what does the reader think, and quickly add a “whoops” … I meant to say this instead.
I know you have this experience, too. The system should only correct the actual spelling. That is what it is supposed to do as far as I’m concerned, not change what I wrote. It can be handy when using words that end in le or el, which always confuses me – like paddle or quarrel – which order for the el or le?
You will be reminded in the following poem how many words actually sound the same, but mean something different. The English language is tough for people who are learning it as a second language and this poem is really a good example. We deal with it every day, but now I see how spellcheck or autocorrect in this situation didn’t really get it.
I thought I was going to have a lot of trouble typing this because of spellcheck/autocorrect. The meaning might come across, but the word would be changed. But for the most part, it let me go through with it.
Now with all my complaining I want to share with you a recent find. It talks about how good a spellchecker can be in your life. In this case it recognized the word was spelled properly, but the autocorrect for meaning didn’t click in.
Eye halve a spelling Chequer
It came with my pea see
It mainly Marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot see
Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight for it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me straight a weigh
As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
It’s 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 toiled me sew
So, spellcheck can be good and bad and it’s something that most of us who use a computer or a smart phone have to deal with every day. Good luck to you.
Melanie Behrens – (melb@marysvillejt.com)