The Advantages and Disadvantages of Spell Checkers

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Spell Checkers A spell checker is a computer application that identifies possible misspellings in a text by referring to the accepted spellings in a database. Also called  spell check, spell-checker, spellchecker and  spelling checker. Most spell checkers function as part of a larger program, such as a word processor or search engine. Examples and Observations Dont they teach you how to spell these days?No, I answer. They teach us to use spell-check.(Jodi Picoult,  House Rules.  Simon Schuster, 2010) Spell Checkers and the Brain Psychologists have found that when we work with computers, we often fall victim to two cognitive ailmentscomplacency and biasthat can undercut our performance and lead to mistakes. Automation complacency occurs when a computer lulls us into a false sense of security. . . .Most of us have experienced complacency when at a computer. In using e-mail or word-processing software, we become less proficient proofreaders when we know that a spell-checker is at work. (Nicholas Carr, All Can Be Lost: The Risk of Putting Our Knowledge in the Hands of Machines. The Atlantic, October 2013)[W]hen it comes to autocorrect, spellcheck, and their ilk, those who would blame digital technology for language decay are not entirely wrong. Our brains seem to become less vigilant when we know a grammatical safety net will catch us. A 2005 study found that students who got a high score on the verbal section of either the SAT or the Gmat missed twice as many errors proofreading a letter in Microsoft Word with the program’s squiggly colored lines highlighting likely mistakes as they did when the spell-check software was turned off. (Joe Pinsker, Punctuated Equilibrium. The Atlantic, July-August 2014) Microsofts Spellchecker Microsofts language experts also track word requests, as well as frequently corrected words, to assess whether those words should be added to the Speller dictionary (Speller is the trademark name of Microsofts spell-checker). One recent request was pleather, meaning a plastic faux leather, which was added because of a lobbying effort by the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. If youve got the latest goods from Microsoft, pleather shouldnt get a red squiggly.In other cases, real words are intentionally kept out of the programs dictionary. A calender is a machine used for a specialized manufacturing process. But most people see calender as a misspelling of calendar. The wordsmiths at Microsoft have decided to keep calender out of the programs dictionary, figuring that at the end of the day its more useful to fix so many misspelled calendars, than it is to cater to the sensibilities of a small subset of the population who happen to know of, and want to write about, calend ers. Similar homophones (computer people call them common confusables) include words like rime, kame, quire, and leman. (David Wolman, Righting the Mother Tongue. Collins, 2008) The Limitations of Spellcheckers In fact, you have to be quite good at spelling and reading in order to use a spellchecker effectively. Typically, if you have misspelled a word the spellchecker will offer a list of alternatives. Unless your initial attempt is reasonably close to the correct spelling, you are unlikely to be offered sensible alternatives, and, even if you are, you have to be able to make sense of what is on offer. You and your pupils also have to be aware of the limitations of spellcheckers. First, you may correctly spell a word but simply use the wrong one; for example, After I had eaten my super I went straight to bed. A spellchecker will not spot that it should be supper not super (did you spot the mistake?). Second, the spellchecker does not recognize some perfectly acceptable words. (David Waugh and Wendy Jolliffe, English 5-11: A Guide for Teachers, 2nd ed. Routledge, 2013) Spellcheckers for Writers With Learning Disabilities Spellcheckers have revolutionised the lives of many dyslexic people and come to the rescue of beleaguered editors. Some snags still arise, as when homophones are used incorrectly. The speech option spellchecker can overcome these difficulties by giving definitions and using them in sentences for clarification and meaning. Some find it helpful if the spellchecker is turned off when they are doing the first draft of a piece of writing, otherwise the frequent interruptions (because of their many spelling errors) interfere with their train of thought.(Philomena Ott, Teaching Children with Dyslexia: A Practical Guide. Routledge, 2007) The Lighter Side of Spellcheckers This apology was printed in the Observers For the Record column on March 26, 2006: A paragraph in the article below fell victim to the curse of the electronic spellchecker. Old Mutual became Old Metal, Axa Framlingon became Axe Framlington and Alliance Pimco became Aliens Pico.The Rev. Ian Elston was thinking ahead to Christmas services when his computer spell-checker changed the gifts of the Wise Men to golf, frankincense and myrrh. (Ken Smith, Day of the Dead. HeraldScotland, November 4, 2013)

Across FIve Aprils Essays - Jethro, Across Five Aprils, Free Essays

Across FIve Aprils Essays - Jethro, Across Five Aprils, Free Essays Across FIve Aprils In Across FIve Aprils, the character are faced with many difficult decisions, which range from difficult choices on lovr to lyalty. One such example is the decision Bill Creigghton makes. He decided that he wantes to join sides with the Confecderate army, against his area's popular belief to support the Union. Bill decided to do this because, in his belief, and area shouldn't have its way of life taken away from it because of war. This shows that Bill cares about tothers and feel that things that have already been established should stay the way they are. Finally, Shadrach Yale is faced with another difficult decision. He decided that though he could have stayed home witht he things and peopole he loved, he shouold go off to war to fight on the Union front. Shad did this because he felt that he shouldn't be safe at home while other men were out fighting the war. His decision says that Shad is an unselfish person who is couragerous. Another character that must make a difficult decision is Jethro Creighton. He decided not to turn in his courin Eb to the authorities, after he find him in hiding because he is a deserter. Jethro also decieded not to tell his family about it. He finally decided to write Presiden Abraham Lincoln for help. Jethro dosen't tell his family about it because he doesn't wat to add another load to their already very heavy burden. He doesn't turn in Eb because he loves his cousin too much to turn him in. THis says about Jethro that he's willing to stay loyal to his family, even if it means breaking the law, as with Eb. He also cares very much about his family because he doesn't want to upset them And he's also willing to go to great pains for e"Eb, because he writes Abraham Lincoln and he takes on the eomtional burden of dealilng with Eb. All thee characters represent only a portion of those in this novel who sacrifice things dear to them to do what they believe is right.

Celebrity culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Celebrity culture - Essay Example Here the concept of becoming an icon or even any mythical quotable legend arises. In modern world, business has surfaced that makes use of the same concept in marketing, selling, propagating of concepts, methods, trends and preferences. To get into the rudimentary details of what has been happening around one has to grasp the concept of celebrity culture. This culture refers to the popularizing of certain people or group that have certain attributes considered exceptional. These attributes, during the last decade were compulsorily entailed characteristics and dispositions like virtue, abilities, decency and intelligence. Today this culture has become a mix of positive and negative sides like fame and infamy. It is important to idealize the concept of celebrity culture before getting into the details. People today have a great latitude and capacity to sway in accordance with their desires. Albert Einstein, Galileo, Stephen Hawking and so forth, provide examples of those who worked had to enlighten the world with the jewels of science. They earned a genuine value for becoming a celebrity. But, an important thing here is the mentioning of people who earn such status with the help of infamy. They are being accused of promoting sex, drugs, crimes and such abnormal antisocial activities to become a celebrity. Role of media, that is actually the vehicle of this culture, is being accentuated. The celebrity culture is not new. In olden times, lords and kings used their resources to make them a god-like figure. In the case of pharaohs we see the same culture that had them build massive structures and great social influence on the lives of their subject. Herostratus, a Greek figure, in 665 BC burnt the temple of Artemis in a bid to become popular. This move of his was a typical attention pulling and heroism oriented. Later, his name was taken surreptitiously rather than openly by the youth due to governmental decree. This shows that the phenomenon that drives the celebrit y culture is not modern. We see that virtuous and pious people as the holy Abrahamic books reveal about, were such celebrated characters and personalities that are even revered in their posterity. The case of the death of Socrates is known to all and he has posthumously been venerated a lot among great men. In this culture people strive for achieving a status by the dint of their intellect and other abilities, some make use of vicious methods like dating with rich or daring in a reality TV for such fame. Thus it is point to ponder that this culture has made lives superficial and eccentric behaviours are seen. Some say that bizarre behaviour can bring a lot of attention and fame for being heretic or norm breaker. We see that religious books are replete with histories of people who achieve posthumous fame. Stories of Pharaohs and tyrants are told in a lot more number causing them to become a mythical creature. Another aspect of celebrity culture is that it causes a change in dispositi on of the audience as far as their living and behaviours are concerned. People try to seek ways that can bring fame to them and they adopt ways of those people who are their celebrities. We see that today many crimes related to getting rich through easy way, being popular in a little time are often attributed to these desires. The moods and mental abilities tend to stick to these role models so that there can be any