Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 4 5
#5887 08/31/00 05:15 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
M
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
I have done a search for a thread on this topic and couldn't find one. Does anybody know which reference work is used as the basis for the idiosyncratic Cerberus that passes for a spell-checker? The vagaries of the checker have certainly generated a fair amount of amusement, but I wonder if anyone knows of superior alternatives which might be suggested for Anu's consideration. Perhaps even one that allows registered users to add to a custom dictionary for place names and other frequently used but unrecognised words. Just my 2˘


"Nationalism is an infantile disease, the measles of humanity" - Albert Einstein

#5888 08/31/00 07:15 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
To such a highly educated and refined clientele as the regulars of this board, a "creative" spell-checker is more of an asset than a merely "correct" one, at least from what I have seen so far: it has given rise to hilarious and serious exchanges. Orthography in English seems to me far less of an obstacle than certain idiomatic aspects of that language. To my knowledge, there is no electronic help for advanced problems of this sort.


#5889 08/31/00 12:52 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
R
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
R
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
I totally agree with you, wsieber (or Wu) - you have said what I was going to say, but in much better language.
Ta. (or Tab)


#5890 08/31/00 01:11 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
J
jmh Offline
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
J
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
I think there is a learning curve with the spell-checker.

At first amazement and incredulity
followed by frustration and irritation
mellowing out to something akin to .... admiration.

The spell-checker is not just a mere functionary
designed to smooth the path of our verbal meanderings
it is .... art!

I'm looking for a good name along the lines of “The International Campaign to save Idiosyncratic Spell-checkers from Extinction” but I never was any good at acronyms.



#5891 08/31/00 01:46 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
R
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
R
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
?? United Front For Idiosyncratic Spell CHeckers

(sorry, haven't quite figured out how to colour the letters, so you'll have to make do with capitals - I'd add something at the bottom, but that would be an im pediment)


#5892 08/31/00 03:05 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Save Our Lexiphanic English Crunching Idiomatic Spelling Monitor (SOLECISM)

(90% of the headwords in my wwftd dictionary are unknown to 100% of the spell-checkers in the known universe, which is why the disclaimer reads "you try spell-checking this stuff!")


#5893 08/31/00 06:19 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
M
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
Save Our Lexiphanic English Crunching Idiomatic Spelling Monitor (SOLECISM)

Don't you listen to him Dan, he's a devil, not a man! Just when I think that I could not be more awestruck by your eloquence, you prove me wrong. Thanks to all who replied to my original query, I guess I'm just lazy. My problem with any non-customised spell-checker is that after wading through dozens of false alerts in the same paragraph, I tend to miss valid ones. I know that's my fault, but it would be nice to have the option of adding frequently used words, especially nouns, to the spell-checker's repertoire. Oh well, never mind, I guess I will just have to take the time to read my posts properly and do my own spell checking. Quelle horreur!

"Nationalism is an infantile disease, the measles of humanity" - Albert Einstein

#5894 08/31/00 07:06 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
>I guess I will just have to take the time...

a long, long time ago, in a far off (perhaps parallel) galaxy, someone (Jeff, I think) suggested composing one's messages using one's own favorite editor/spellchecker and pasting them into AWAD's forlorn yet hapless editor.

this would seem to be efficient/effective/efficacious only to the extent that one is truly orthographically distraught.


#5895 08/31/00 07:25 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
M
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
this would seem to be efficient/effective/efficacious

Please use those three words in the same sentence, purely for my entertainment.

"Nationalism is an infantile disease, the measles of humanity" - Albert Einstein

#5896 08/31/00 07:32 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
>Please use those three words in the same sentence...

well, in a way I did, just then -- but the only reason I did was that I can't keep the various shadings straight in my head.


Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 4 5

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 674 guests, and 4 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5