Q: I have a spell checker on my computer – why do I need to use your services?
A: A spell checker alerts you only when you have typed something nonsensical, i.e. that it cannot recognise as a known word.
It will not alert you when you have used an incorrect spelling of a word in a particular circumstance. In other words, you may incorrectly use a word but the spell checker is not intelligent enough to recognise that – in the context used – the word is wrong.
Some simple examples are:
'weather' or 'whether'
'principal' or 'principle'
'there' or 'their' or 'they’re'
'could of' or 'could have'
'here' or 'hear'
'affect' or 'effect'
'compliment' or 'complement'
'lose' or 'loose'
Most people reading your work will know which word should have been used, but your spell checker doesn't.
And although it will query a word that appears twice, it won't notice that a word is missing.
Remember, a properly proofed, edited and formatted document promotes a professional image and protects your reputation for quality work.
Whilst a spell checker can be a useful tool, you should never rely upon it to spot all your errors.
