Difference between revisions of "Autocorrection Software"
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When a user is typing in a Microsoft Office application and makes a common mistake like typing "hte" instead of "the" the mistake will be automatically corrected once the user hits the space bar. Additionally, the spell checker feature will note words it does not recognize with a red, wavy underline to alert the user that they may have made a mistake. | When a user is typing in a Microsoft Office application and makes a common mistake like typing "hte" instead of "the" the mistake will be automatically corrected once the user hits the space bar. Additionally, the spell checker feature will note words it does not recognize with a red, wavy underline to alert the user that they may have made a mistake. | ||
| − | In Microsoft Office, the AutoCorrect settings are found in the '''File''' tab under the '''Options''' section. There are five main AutoCorrect settings. The first is the ability to customize AutoCorrect to automatically replace words with other words that you specify. Second, there is a setting called | + | In Microsoft Office, the AutoCorrect settings are found in the '''File''' tab under the '''Options''' section. There are five main AutoCorrect settings. The first is the ability to customize AutoCorrect to automatically replace words with other words that you specify. Second, there is a setting called ''Correct TWo INitial CApitals''. For every word you type, if you type the word with the first two letters capitalized and that word is in the dictionary, then the second letter is automatically made a lowercase letter. Furthermore, the ''Capitalize first letter of sentences'' setting recognizes the beginning of a new sentence and capitalizes the first letter of the first word of that sentence. Next, the ''Capitalize names of days'' option works similarly to the previously described functions and automatically capitalizes any day of the week that a user types. Finally, the ''Correct accidental use of cAPS LOCK key'' option is activated when a user types a word that begins with a lowercase letter, presses the Caps Locks key on their keyboard, and then types the rest of the word in all capital letters. This feature automatically corrects this mistake by making the first letter of the word capital, making the remaining letters lowercase, and turning off Caps Lock <ref>https://www.officetooltips.com/office_365/tips/setting_autocorrect_options.html</ref>. |
| − | Microsoft Word and Outlook offer two more AutoCorrect options: | + | Microsoft Word and Outlook offer two more AutoCorrect options: ''Capitalize first letter of table cells'', which automatically capitalizes the first letter of the first word in a table cell, and ''Automatically use suggestions from the spelling checker'', which prompts AutoCorrect to collaborate with the spelling checker feature if AutoCorrect does not recognize a word. |
Users can disable and set exceptions for each of the AutoCorrect features in the AutoCorrect settings. | Users can disable and set exceptions for each of the AutoCorrect features in the AutoCorrect settings. | ||
Revision as of 19:22, 27 January 2022
Autocorrection software corrects misspellings and grammar as you type. Autocorrect, also referred to as text replacement, is a standard feature on most smartphones and tablets because it is included in operating systems like iOS and Android. It is also commonly integrated into text editors and word processors. The algorithm for each autocorrection software varies. In some cases, the algorithm may try to match the closest word to a misspelled word. Alternatively, the algorithm may suggest correctly spelled words based keys nearby on the keyboard to the word you have spelled incorrectly [1].
One benefit of autocorrect is its automatic nature. The software is able to classify misspelled words quickly so that writers can correct mistakes as they type. This feature can be helpful for people with dyslexia. Rather than having to manually spell-check, autocorrection software can save people time by checking text as you type. Furthermore, autocorrect can help people by catching misspelled words that they might not have caught on their own [2].
Contents
History
The idea of autocorrect software stems from an ideology of "Do What I Mean" (DWIM) technology. DWIM technologies attempt to guess users' intentions rather than following users' input that may be incorrectly formatted [3]. DWIM technologies and the idea of software correcting text as it is typed date back to the 1960s. It was during this time that a computer scientist created the idea of DWIM computer systems and invented the "undo" command [4].
In more recent history, the invention of autocorrect as we know it today is attributed to Dean Hachamovitch. Hachamovitch is a former vice president at Microsoft and first began working at the company in the 1990s. He was placed on the Word team. At the time, Word already had a feature in which users could add shortcuts to their glossary. For example, someone could choose words like "insert logo" to be associated with their company's logo. Then, a user could conveniently type "inset logo" and press the F3 button to replace the text "insert logo" with an image of said logo. Drawing inspiration from this existing feature, Hachamovitch realized a similar mechanism could be used to correct commonly misspelled words [5].
Using a list of common errors people make while typing, Hachamovitch, and his coworkers developed software that would automatically correct these common errors while people were typing. These errors included mistakes like accidental capitalizations and common misspellings of words like "the." The replacement of these errors was triggered by the space bar, which is possible because words in English are always separated by a space character [6].
Types of Autocorrection and Spell-Checker Software
Despite its foundations in Microsoft Word, autocorrection software is integrated into many different kinds of applications. Word processors, smartphones, desktops, and browser extensions like Grammarly provide users with the tool to make their writing more efficient by suggesting words and by fixing spelling and grammar errors automatically.
Microsoft Office
Specifically, the AutoCorrect feature in Microsoft Office is advertised as a "feature to correct typos and misspelled words, as well as to insert symbols and other pieces of text." Furthermore, "AutoCorrect is set up by default with a list of typical misspellings and symbols, but you can modify the list that AutoCorrect uses" [7].
When a user is typing in a Microsoft Office application and makes a common mistake like typing "hte" instead of "the" the mistake will be automatically corrected once the user hits the space bar. Additionally, the spell checker feature will note words it does not recognize with a red, wavy underline to alert the user that they may have made a mistake.
In Microsoft Office, the AutoCorrect settings are found in the File tab under the Options section. There are five main AutoCorrect settings. The first is the ability to customize AutoCorrect to automatically replace words with other words that you specify. Second, there is a setting called Correct TWo INitial CApitals. For every word you type, if you type the word with the first two letters capitalized and that word is in the dictionary, then the second letter is automatically made a lowercase letter. Furthermore, the Capitalize first letter of sentences setting recognizes the beginning of a new sentence and capitalizes the first letter of the first word of that sentence. Next, the Capitalize names of days option works similarly to the previously described functions and automatically capitalizes any day of the week that a user types. Finally, the Correct accidental use of cAPS LOCK key option is activated when a user types a word that begins with a lowercase letter, presses the Caps Locks key on their keyboard, and then types the rest of the word in all capital letters. This feature automatically corrects this mistake by making the first letter of the word capital, making the remaining letters lowercase, and turning off Caps Lock [8].
Microsoft Word and Outlook offer two more AutoCorrect options: Capitalize first letter of table cells, which automatically capitalizes the first letter of the first word in a table cell, and Automatically use suggestions from the spelling checker, which prompts AutoCorrect to collaborate with the spelling checker feature if AutoCorrect does not recognize a word.
Users can disable and set exceptions for each of the AutoCorrect features in the AutoCorrect settings.
Google Docs
define how it shows up when you are typing where to find it in settings how to add new words how to turn it off
Apple iPhone
define how it shows up when you are typing where to find it in settings how to add new words how to turn it off
Grammarly
define how it shows up when you are typing where to find it in settings how to add new words how to turn it off
Pop Culture
The suggestions that autocorrection software makes, especially when users are sending messages to others via smartphones are widely regarded as a source of comedy in pop culture. For instance, it is common for people to write and send a text without realizing that autocorrection software changed a word the user did not realize they had misspelled with a word they did not intend to type. Generally, the comedic aspect of these mistaken texts comes from autocorrect changes that transform a harmless message into a vulgar message. This phenomenon has resulted in the generation of articles that display mishaps in texting conversations due to autocorrection software. A simple Google search of "autocorrect fails" will lead you to such articles.
Ethical Implications
References
- ↑ https://techterms.com/definition/autocorrect
- ↑ https://jobsforeditors.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-spell-checkers.html
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DWIM
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/08/magazine/who-made-that-autocorrect.html
- ↑ https://www.wired.com/2014/07/history-of-autocorrect/
- ↑ https://www.wired.com/2014/07/history-of-autocorrect/
- ↑ https://www.officetooltips.com/office_365/tips/setting_autocorrect_options.html
- ↑ https://www.officetooltips.com/office_365/tips/setting_autocorrect_options.html
