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Spelling!!!

Spelling!!!

Spelling!!!

(OP)
One of the few problems with Eng-Tips is the problem of editing. Like many others, I like to work in the message pane and dislike having to compose off line and then import especially as formating can be a problem. The downside has been the frequent justified criticism of my spelling, and that of others.

Fed up with all those updates from Windows for the much targeted Internet Explorer, I long ago moved to Mozilla but with my new PC I chose Firefox instead.

Firefox comes complete with a spell checker (which I have used five times in this post already; though in my defense, partly because it thinks I am in the USA and I have not yet installed the English (British) spell checker).

I highly recommend Firefox.

http://www.firefox-2-0.com/

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com

RE: Spelling!!!

"defense"?  You clearly need the British spell checker!

RE: Spelling!!!

The Google Toolbar has spell check.

Chris
SolidWorks 06 5.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-27-06)

RE: Spelling!!!

Spelling corrected. Now, I need a grammar checker. Any suggestions?  Hee Hee.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Spelling!!!

Spelling and grammer are not my problem, it's TYPING, and I suspect others have the same problem.
Hey! no tpyos----whoops.

RE: Spelling!!!

Long Live Firefox!!  thumbsup2

Robert

RE: Spelling!!!

If you're having trouble with typing, look into the Dvorak keyboard.  I relearned to type about 8 years ago and have never looked back.  Accuracy improved greatly, speed went up by 50%, and my hands don't hurt as they used to when I type several pages...

http://www.dvorak-keyboard.com/

RE: Spelling!!!

Dvorak keyboard. Very interesting! Haven't heard of it before.

RE: Spelling!!!

As an advanced hunt and pecker never having a had a typing lesson on QWERTY, I wonder if Dvorak would help me at all. Swearingen, how long did it take you to switch?

RE: Spelling!!!

Fat fingers maybe checkerRon?  smile  Who needs Dvorak keyboard?  Dont you guys have speech recognition on your computer?  It works like a charm..





NOT!

RE: Spelling!!!

Everyone makes spelling errors and typos from time to time.  What bothers me is when you correct someone's spelling error, they claim it was just a typo.  There IS a difference.

RE: Spelling!!!

My spelling errors tend to be mental typos.dazed
I know better, but that isn't what always gets written.

RE: Spelling!!!

It's usually easy to spot typos vs spelling errors, especially when they are repeated the same way. Checkers see them all the time. I tend, however, to repeat the same typing errors, but catch myself doing it. Not fat fingers, just an out-of-practice touch typist. Same condition as ewh.

RE: Spelling!!!

It took about 6 months total to switch to Dvorak.  What I mean by "switch" is get to the accuracy and proficiency I had before I started.  This includes a couple of weeks of false starts where I tried various exercises to get me to learn it.  I found that the best way was to put stickers on my keyboard.  By the time a sticker would wear off, I would have learned that particular letter (having been pressed enough to wear off the sticker).  When the last sticker wore off, I knew the letters and kept picking up speed.

Six months sounds like a long time, but I didn't write specs or contracts at the time.  Most of my writing was emails and client letters and encompassed about 10% of what I did during the day.  Also, remember that I had learned QWERTY and had been using it for 5 years, which made the switch challenging.

I don't think it would be as challenging for a hunt-n-peck type because most look at the keyboard while they type.  It would slow you down a bunch at first, but even if you stayed with hunt-n-peck and didn't touch-type, you'd be faster and more accurate than before.

Speaking of spelling errors and spell checkers, here's a link to a poem on the subject.  It's a hoot:http://www.tenderbytes.net/rhymeworld/feeder/teacher/pullet.htm

Note that every word is spelled correctly and would pass a spell checker...

RE: Spelling!!!

Still doesn't help with grammar.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."   
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Spelling!!!

Tomfh,

I've read that article before, and I don't have any hard data to refute it (although I know I have seen some strong opposing arguments in the past).  I cannot comment on the economics model, but as for the physical benefits I am unwavering in my support.  I question whether some of the subsequent studies were done with experienced typists or with new typists - where some would learn QWERTY for the first time and some would learn Dvorak.  I bet it's the former, which would certainly skew the results.

I took typing in high school (the only boy in my class to do so - I was interested in the budding computer and knew I would need the skill) and learned QWERTY like everyone else.  I was never a very good typist (fat fingers), but I leveled out at about 45wpm with few or no mistakes.  I stayed at that level through college and the first few years of work.  Once I discovered Dvorak, I took a few online typing tests to get a good handle on my speed and I was a pretty consistent 40 to 45wpm on QWERTY.  After 6 months of Dvorak-only typing, I had passed that mark and two months later I hit 60wpm.  Now I'm at about 60 to 65wpm consistently.  No, that's not fast, but it is a vast improvement over my QWERTY days.

The real kicker was the added benefit of pain-free typing.  When using QWERTY, after typing a one-page letter my hands hurt.  Now, I can type several pages without any discomfort.

I'm not saying anyone that tries Dvorak will have the same results as me.  However, if you experience pain while typing and are fairly slow, I suggest giving it a try.

RE: Spelling!!!

So I made a good one yesterday.  I put someone was death instead of deaf.

At the time I knew there was something wrong but for the life of me couldn't put my finger on it.  Not sure if I had a temporary brain freeze or if I'm really that dumb!

RE: Spelling!!!

The article Tomfh cites doesn't address the question of physical strain.

Here's a response to the "Dvorak efficiency is a myth" argument:
http://www.theworldofstuff.com/dvorak/#myth

Believe what you will.

Hg

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