Tools and Resources for Spell Checking
August 9th, 2007 | Blogging Tips
There is nothing worse than an otherwise witty blog post marked by several spelling errors (especially if you are getting paid to write it…). Sure, people will still be able to understand the overall meaning of your words, but your credibility might get damaged along the way.
Luckily, technology comes at our aid. Below you will find a list of resources and tools that can be used to spell check your articles, emails, websites and more.
Browsers
- Firefox 2.0: Ever posted a comment on a blog only to find out that you had written “embarasment†instead of “embarrassment?†The latest release of the Mozilla house comes with an in-built spell checker that works inside web forms; very useful for active Internet users.
- Firefox 1.5: If you have a fetish with Firefox 1.5 and are reluctant to upgrade it to the newest version, no worries! There is an extension called SpellBound that will add the spell checking functionality to your browser.
- Internet Explorer: There is no reason to use Internet Explorer. Firefox is faster, more flexible and more reliable. But this is not the central topic of this article, so if you (still) are an Internet Explorer user, you can use an extension called IESpell.
Online Tools
- SpellChecker.net: The site is not so fast, but it gets the job done when it comes to spell checking. The service also includes a “Grammar Checker,†but I am not sure how reliable it is considering that it did not correct sentences like “He are my friend†and “I go there last year.â€
- Orangoo: The site is pretty fast and the corrections are done in the same window (as opposed to being displayed in pop-ups like with SpellChecker.net). Another advantage is that it supports 28 different languages.
Website Spell Checkers
- Spell checking your website could be a good idea. If you don’t have time or patience to carry it out on your own, you can use an online service.TextTrust.com is a company that will spell check your website for you. It offers a free trial version where results are emailed to you within one business day. Additional services are charged.
Open Source Software
- OpenOffice.org: Microsoft Word comes with a nice spell checker, but this certainly doesn’t justify the hundred bucks that you’ll need to spend for it. OpenOffice.org is one of the best alternatives around. While the spreadsheet utility might not be as good as Excel, the word processor offers virtually all the features you’ll ever need.
- AbiWord: If you want to use only a word processor and not the complete Office suite you can try AbiWord. It is a light software, and apart from the spell checker it also comes with a grammar checker.
- LanguageTool: This is an open source grammar checker. Basically it will catch grammar errors that would pass the spell checker, like repeating two words or using “a†before a word starting with a vowel sound. The interesting thing is that you can add custom “rules†for special mistakes that you are looking for.
Paid Software
- As-U-Type: This spell checker apparently works at Operational System level, meaning that once you install it you will be able to use it inside all applications. Apart from functioning as a real time spell checker, the software will also learn your typing habits and automatically correct common mistakes. There is a free trial version which works for 30 days, and the full software costs $39.
Bottom line: Do not forget that running that spell checker is not enough, you will still need to proofread your work!
[...] Tools and Resources for Spell Checking [...]
Left by Shoppingmum’s Home Office » Blog Archive » Spelling Mistake on August 9th, 2007
I use orangoo Spell checker and this tool to count the words:
http://www.javascriptkit.com/script/script2/countwords.shtml
Left by cenourinha on August 9th, 2007
Sure, this is just very ridiculous, I’ve forgot to check my post, about couple of days, I check it again, wow, It’s really shock me… I forgot to check the grammar… wow… Next time it won’t be so easy to get an error again
Left by Suray - Suray's Words - SurayBlog on August 10th, 2007
I find the spell checker in FF2 invaluable as it allows me to use really long words without misspelling them
Left by TextAdSearch on August 10th, 2007
For those of you who use Internet Explorer 7 and want spell checking in your forms give the IE7Pro plug-in a try… http://www.ie7pro.com/
Of course, there’s always Microsoft Live Writer which has a whole bunch of features (including spell checking) built in.
– http://www.JoeLevi.com
Left by Joe Levi on August 14th, 2007
[...] I
Left by vivivava.com » Blog Archive » Tools and Resource for Spell Checker on August 14th, 2007
Yup,Firefox V2.0 is excellent and automatically checks for typing errors.Its a great boon for bloggers ,and helps in correcting the mistakes as and when it happens.To count the number of words is use this site http://www.javascriptkit.com/script/script2/countwords.shtml which instantly gives me the correct word count!
Left by Sid on August 15th, 2007
Sid, good tool for counting words, thanks for sharing.
Left by Daniel Scocco on August 17th, 2007
[...] Update : Here is good and interesting link about the topic [1]. [...]
Left by Spelling is important for Blogs on August 19th, 2007
Great post and reminder to check the little things and don’t rely too much on the spell checker, as is evident in your first paragraph:
“(Specially if you’re getting paid to write it…)”
I think you may have meant “Especially”
Left by Mark on August 20th, 2007
I’m using MS Word Processor for Word Count and Grammar/Spelling check. It’s very convenient.
Left by Nita on August 20th, 2007
Mark, thanks for the heads up.
There is an ongoing discussion about specially/especially, some people argue that they should become interchangeable.
But I agree that the standard usage still matters, and we should pay attention to the differences, also with the adjectives special and especial.
Left by Daniel Scocco on August 22nd, 2007
[...] If you are more concerned with spell checking your posts and comments, you can check another post I wrote titled “Tools and Resources for Spell Checking.” [...]
Left by Website Spell Checkers on August 23rd, 2007
If you’re on a Mac, like myself, Grammarian Pro X is an excellent spell checker. You can try before you buy the product. I think they give you ten days.
Left by Opal Tribble on August 31st, 2007