Re: Word should catalog misspelled words to study.

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Tony,

I apologize for that opening remark. It didn’t come across as I intended.
I’m sorry.

That MS Word shouldn’t do anything hasn’t been any concern of mine. All of
you have attention focused on explaining what I’d like it to do! And
hopefully I’ve been respectful and friendly throughout with one exception to
you Tony.

First, MS Word already keeps track of every word you type and checks it
against the dictionary. There would be no additional over head there.

Second, to simply write a word to a file when either the auto correct is
fired or when the user makes a selection in the drop down list from spell
checker would not seemingly over tax the system. Certainly trivial compared
to the UNDO feature that is undetectable in the background.

Third, I do not know what you mean by effectively implement. All I’ve mused
about is a simple misspelled word list that could be fed back into the text
to voice feature that is already a feature in MS Word. I’ll leave grammar
enhancements to the grammar checker that is, again, already a feature in MS
Word.

The more MS Word can do the better. (And it would seem every release has
aspired to do much more than each previous release) But again all those
other things everyone has brought up (crosswords, poetry, insipid math
puzzles in the Daily, word peace) haven’t been a concern of mine. The points
were brought up simply to demonstrate it already does so much more than “word
processing.” So saying that a feature that deals with spelling is
ridiculous, I dare say, is ridiculous. MS Word is not a study aid…why not?
Why not state MS Word isn’t a HTML code writing tool, go use (whatever MS
product is for that) or MS Word isn’t a layout tool, go use MS Publisher if
you want photos in a document. Why, because those features are there. So
arguing that if a feature isn’t already there then it should not be included
just doesn’t stand.

Am I correct that you, Suzanne, Greg, and now Daiya (hello) are opposed
because essentially: to produce a list of misspelled words would first, over
tax the system and second, add too much additional cost to the product?

If we assume, for friendly discussion, no performance or cost issues, that
then it would be an agreeable feature? If so then we’ll be at agreement and
I can go to bed thankful of some new acquaintances! If not, I’m still going
to bed and I’d still by each of you a pint!

And no Tony, I don’t believe the broadband parallel is much better. I
don’t do HTML or pictures in documents and still HAVE TO (just for you Greg
:) ) take MS Word as it comes, and with no complaints! Eons better than Word
Perfect 5 for which I spent 2x as much. Spelling is to word processing as…

Thank you all.


"Tony Jollans" wrote:

> I'm not going to quibble over words. Yes, I *choose* to agree with Suzanne
>
> I'm not sure that the argument that Word already does things it probably
> shouldn't is grounds for suggesting that it do more. In particular I would
> say that it should leave web page design to other dedicated software (very
> few people actually like what Word does with web pages and I've never seen
> it recommended as a tool for this). What it can do with images is pretty
> limited. What it does with embedded objects (not actually as much as you
> might think) is almost a requirement for the creation of many documents.
>
> I don't think it's a difficult point to argue, and the reason, of course, is
> that I enjoy a good argument :-) Word is not a study aid and what you are
> suggesting would put quite a heavy load on everyday activity; it would have
> to keep track of every word you typed and whether or not you corrected it
> (or maybe just changed it later - because not all misspellings result in
> invalid words) or it was autocorrected or it was picked up by the
> spellchecker (or the grammar checker) - and if so, what you did with it. In
> fact the more I think about what it would have to do to effectively
> implement such a facility, the more I am certain it shouldn't be done.
>
> OK - maybe the washer analogy was extreme, but the point stands. Word does
> a certain type of manipulation of words and other document content and there
> are other programs which do other types of manipulation. The more that's
> bundled together, the more it would cost to produce and to buy. Perhaps a
> better analogy would be this: I have just got broadband Internet access and
> I looked at the various packages that were available. I bought one for £15 a
> month. I could have bought one for £30 a month (AOL, say) but I didn't want
> most of the facilities (all, loosely, related to internet connection) that
> were included in the AOL package; I didn't want them running on my machine
> and I didn't want to pay for them. Your suggestion (not unreasonable for a
> separately purchased addon) would be attractive to a fairly small subset of
> current, or prospective, Word users but all would have to pay for it.
>
> --
> Enjoy,
> Tony
>
>
> "rndthought" <rndthought@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:291AF79F-EA00-4F73-A192-D365EA5AAAF0@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Tony,
> >
> > First, don't debase yourself. You do not "half to", you choose to.
> Second,
> > neither you nor Suzanne has established how "word processing" explicitly
> > excludes building a personalized list of misspelled words for further
> study,
> > personal development.
> >
> > You and Suzanne have chosen a difficult point to argue (and for no
> reason).
> > If MS Word can manipulate HTML with web page previews, embed Excel tables
> > able to be edited from within the document and manipulate image
> > characteristics; the word processor has shattered the complexity barrier
> it
> > would take to build a simple list file - if the option was selected - of
> > misspelled words. The text to voice feature is already in place. The
> > argument that my request would add too much complexity is simply absurd
> and
> > baseless. My suggestion is not unreasonable and certainly not close to
> the
> > horrible washer parallel. Trying to negate a "spelling is to word
> > processing" relationship? You will half to try very hard.
> >
> > While MS Word is ubiquitous, not just CEOs and MPV use the program daily
> but
> > it is on essentially every school computer in my district, it is not
> always
> > possible to rely on the crutch of spell check and auto replace in the real
> > word. This spelling tutor feature is one from which my children and I
> > believe many children and adults would greatly benefit.
> >
> > The cause for so much resistance and the need to voice it still baffling.
> It
> > is just a list of misspelled words. Why would this be so disconcerting?
> >
> > As always, except for the washer thing, thank you for the thoughtful
> comments.
> >
> >
> > "Tony Jollans" wrote:
> >
> > > I'd have to agree with Suzanne here. Word Processing is what Word does.
> Just
> > > because it uses words does not mean that it does, or should, provide
> every
> > > imaginable function that might also use words; before you know it
> someone
> > > will be suggesting that it solve crosswords.
> > >
> > > It is generally true that adding essentially unrelated functionality is
> > > likely to bring problems. Imagine trying to add a dish-washing facility
> to
> > > your washing machine; they both use water and detergent to get things
> clean,
> > > so why not?
> > >
> > > --
> > > Enjoy,
> > > Tony
> > >
> > >
> > > "rndthought" <rndthought@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > > news:669AD00B-F1F5-474B-B9CA-D643A8CAFB1C@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > Suzanne, spelling is Fundamental to this purpose. Period.
> > > >
> > > > Again, why so much resistance and the need to voice it?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Suzanne S. Barnhill" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > A word processor is a way for people who know what they want to say
> and
> > > how
> > > > > to say it to put those words on paper. Some of the functions you
> mention
> > > > > (such as automatic creation of TOCs) are fundamental to this
> purpose.
> > > Auto
> > > > > formatting certainly facilitates it. Keep in mind that a huge target
> > > market
> > > > > for Microsoft is "knowledge workers" (secretaries and the like) and
> > > > > executives in large corporations. They need to be able to create
> letters
> > > and
> > > > > reports and easily and quickly as possible. It is assumed that they
> > > either
> > > > > know how to spell or will depend on spell check to correct their
> > > spelling.
> > > > > I'll grant you that this is an unreasonable assumption in the first
> > > instance
> > > > > and a dangerous one in the second, but there you have it.
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > Suzanne S. Barnhill
> > > > > Microsoft MVP (Word)
> > > > > Words into Type
> > > > > Fairhope, Alabama USA
> > > > > Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
> > > > > Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the
> > > newsgroup so
> > > > > all may benefit.
> > > > >
> > > > > "rndthought" <rndthought@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > > > > news:61E72678-924E-421E-8801-E2C112916567@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > Suzanne,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > You make a good observation in regards to trying to be all things.
> As
> > > for
> > > > > > keeping MS Word from loosing sight of the "primary functions" (or
> > > > > focus)... I
> > > > > > believe even a cursory overview of the options and abilities in
> Word
> > > > > show's
> > > > > > the ship has set sail (Invoicing with macros, auto creation of
> TOC,
> > > auto
> > > > > > formatting, Auto fill forms, creating HTML documents, altering
> Image
> > > > > > attributes - all on a word processor???). It seems to me that MS
> > > Word
> > > > > most
> > > > > > definitely has higher aspirations than that of a functioned word
> > > processor
> > > > > or
> > > > > > computerize type writer.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If a spelling tutor, I like that term Suzanne, doesn't belong in a
> > > program
> > > > > > whose primary purpose is to type words in the creation of
> documents,
> > > > > > presumably for purpose of communicating information
> accurately...where
> > > > > then?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > This isn't a fundamental change in the program or a complete
> change in
> > > the
> > > > > > interface (which is coming in the next version)...simply an option
> (or
> > > if
> > > > > > possible a macro as Greg has shown in a limited fashion) that
> could be
> > > > > > enabled for those that wish to expand their spelling abilities.
> Why
> > > so
> > > > > much
> > > > > > resistance and need to voice it?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thank you again for the thoughtful comments.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "Suzanne S. Barnhill" wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > Where Word most often gets into trouble is through trying to be
> all
> > > > > things
> > > > > > > to all people. I don't imagine, however, that the Word
> developers
> > > will
> > > > > ever
> > > > > > > so far lose sight of the primary functions of Word as to
> incorporate
> > > > > > > features that make it a spelling tutor.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > Suzanne S. Barnhill
> > > > > > > Microsoft MVP (Word)
> > > > > > > Words into Type
> > > > > > > Fairhope, Alabama USA
> > > > > > > Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
> > > > > > > Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the
> > > > > newsgroup so
> > > > > > > all may benefit.
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
>
>
.

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