Have spell checker? Beware!

We all use them, whether we want to or not. Today's powerful word processors have them built-in and running in real time as we type. Misspell a word, and our trusty spell checker immediately puts a squiggly red line under it to draw our attention. Right-click for immediate correction. Even native English speakers need spell checkers. Our knowledge of the English language is not perfect. We all have our own set of words that we're never quite sure how to spell (accomodate or accommodate?). And then of course, we all make typos.

But can you trust them?
Spell checkers are great, but they're not infallible. Their ability to understand what we really want to say is very limited, and usually, they just check our words to see if they exist without considering any context. I'm always reminded of a poem I came across over 20 years ago, then titled "Owed to a Spell Checker," that warns about the perils of relying on these useful tools too much. It was written by a gifted man to make a point about the need for spell checkers in early email clients. Of the original 225 words, 123 are faulty, although they're spelled correctly. Read the full story here. Things are getting better, but they're still far from perfect. Google Docs still only detects 25 words as incorrect.

Here's the full original poem.

Candidate for a Pullet Surprise Eye halve a spelling checker. It came with my pea sea. It plane lee marks four my revue Miss steaks aye can knot sea. Eye ran this poem threw it, Your sure reel glad two no. Its vary polished inn it's weigh. My checker tolled me sew. A checker is a bless sing, It freeze yew lodes of thyme. It helps me right awl stiles two reed, And aides me when aye rime. Each frays come posed up on my screen Eye trussed too bee a joule. The checker pours o'er every word To cheque sum spelling rule. Bee fore a veiling checkers Hour spelling mite decline, And if we're lacks oar have a laps, We wood bee maid too wine. Butt now bee cause my spelling Is checked with such grate flare, Their are know faults with in my cite, Of nun eye am a wear. Now spelling does knot phase me, It does knot bring a tier. My pay purrs awl due glad den With wrapped words fare as hear. To rite with care is quite a feet Of witch won should bee proud, And wee mussed dew the best wee can, Sew flaws are knot aloud. Sow ewe can sea why aye dew prays Such soft wear four pea seas, And why eye brake in two averse Buy righting want too pleas.