Using Spell Checkers Wisely

A spell checker can save a huge amount of time for a writer, especially someone who writes a lot, but it’s important to keep it’s limits in mind. Modern word processors like Microsoft Word, with instant highlighting of spelling mistakes allow you to go quickly go through your text and correct obvious errors before going to your proof-reading. This is where a great many authors go wrong or fail to appreciate what the spell checker is doing and what it’s checking for. They mistakenly believe that having carried out a spell-check, all the words are now be spelled correctly.

In general terms, the spell checker only checks that all of the words are in the dictionary, not whether you, the writer, have used them in the right place or even in the right order or context. Think about common mistakes when using ‘there and ‘their’. A spell-checker will not highlight where you might have picked the wrong choice. You will have to proofread your text to notice that mistake. Find out more about Spelling and Grammar Checkers …