Not "spellchecko," but what?

[GuyLawley]

This is a non-Moorcock question, but I reckon I will never find a more literate (and word-processor-literate) bunch to ask it of, so:

I read some years ago about a word someone had invented for the errors which a spell-checker won’t pick up.

For example if you type fro instead of for, nay instead of any, form instead of from (this is just from today’s typing !) the spellchecker detects words correctly spelled and so doesn’t alert you to your error(s).

Another good error is “typo�, which I’ve typed as a typo for “type� !
(And it wasn’t because of a hypo, and I’m not perpetrating a hype.)

So, just as the word typo came in, meaning typing error, there is a word for this kind of typo which you may miss if you rely too much on your spellchecker…

…but I have forgotten the word ! And no-one I know has ever heard or seen it. About all I can remember is that it wasn’t “spellchecko�! It was short’n’sweeter than that.

Over to you.

(If you don’t know the word, maybe you can make up a good alternative!)

Also, anyone got nay better examples? I had a good one this moaning but I can't remember it!

Best wishes to all,
Guy

[Michael Moorcock]

I almost never use spellcheck for that reason. Proper names. Fantastic names. All that stuff gets queried and it lets real errors go. By and large, I don't need it, since I have a pretty good memory of how to spell regular words but really need help with proper names! Instead, I have my old journalist's dictionary from my Fleetway days and usually try to use an encyclopaedia (pedia ?) for proper names. Actually quicker for me than using electronic aids. I haven't heard of that technology which actually can spell the right word in the right context, but I'm not really the person you're asking, anyway! Still think a regular dictionary works best!

[EverKing]

Microsoft Word has a built in grammer checker that will often spot those correctly spelled words in the incorrect place. But just like Spellcheck, Grammercheck occassionally misses glaring errors.

As for a word that spellcheck never gets...*shrug* I can't help you there. Sorry.

[xidrep]

Apolypseudosyntaxia malelectronica may be the medical term for the problem...

[xidrep]

Or, perhaps the phenomenon is due to a splinter group of ex-Soviet KGB agents attempting to subvert the technology-rich West? That would make them Spell-Chekists.

A-ha. A-ha ha ha ha. A HA HA HA HA HAAAAAAAA!

[GuyLawley]

I almost never use spellcheck for that reason. Proper names. Fantastic names. All that stuff gets queried and it lets real errors go. By and large, I don't need it, since I have a pretty good memory of how to spell regular words but really need help with proper names!

My spelling is pretty good but my typing is terrible!!!

Which is why I like my spellchecker.

Over the last year or so I have had to stop writing notes at work and use the computer screen. A mixture of coded entries and free text. The free text areas have no spell check. Unbelievable in 2005. A source of much misery as I go over every note a second time correcting errors. And still missing some. This process would be much quicker with spellchecking and speed is of the essence (as Jerry C might say).