fordjm@byuvax.bitnet (02/01/88)
I apologize if this topic has been discussed, but I don't read everything in this group. I was just visiting a friend that owns a PC and he showed me what looks like a really useful grammar and style checking program called Thelma Thistleblossom that he uses along with Word Perfect. Can anyone point me to some writing tools like this for the MacIntosh? I would hate to find out that there aren't any. I am interested in any such programs, but, being a poor grad student (1/2 :-)), I am especially interested in PD, Shareware, or inexpensive products. Thanks in advance, John M. Ford (*Not* the SF author.) fordjm@byuvax.bitnet
pollock@usfvax2.UUCP (Wayne Pollock) (02/06/88)
In article <96fordjm@byuvax.bitnet> fordjm@byuvax.bitnet writes: >... a friend that owns a PC and he showed me what looks >like a really useful grammar and style checking program ... > Can anyone point me >to some writing tools like this for the MacIntosh? ... There are one or two; I found out about them through the free reader service card in the back of MacUser. I haven't bought one yet, so I don't want to give a review. Anyway, one is called "MacProof(tm) 3.0", by Automated Language Processing Systems, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah. Their phone is: (800) 354-5656. Its supposed to be a DA which checks spelling, punctuation, capitalization, double words; it also checks usage (offensive words, often confused workds, wordiness, etc.), style ("be" verbs, nominalizations, etc.), and structure (sentince beginings, paragraph structure, repetitions, etc.). I don't have the other checker's information handy; I suggest if you're really interested you can find ads for this stuff in any good Mac magazine. I think it offered similar features. To me, this is very similar to the ol' UNIX package "WWB", which had all this and more besides. One thing missing from all these grammar checkers is the ability to customize some of the checks. For instance, I write a lot of technical documents, where it is more appropriate to have puctionation marks outside of quotes (for instance, ``the unix command is "cp /etc/passwd .".'' is much clearer than ``the unix command is "cp /etc/passwd .."''). Also, the last thing I need is yet another dictionary, and I'd bet you can't get a price discount if you don't order the dictionary. I'd like to be able to customize several of the usage and style checks, too. Sorry this got to be so long, but you hit me in a tender spot. I am still waiting for a good grammer and usage checker for the mac, so I hope those who sell them read this and offer a better checker; remember not everyone uses the mac to write books; specialty documents require customizable checkers! Wayne Pollock (The MAD Scientist) pollock@usfvax2.usf.edu.UUCP Usenet: ...!{ihnp4, cbatt}!codas!usfvax2!pollock GEnie: W.POLLOCK
gillies@uiucdcsp.cs.uiuc.edu (02/08/88)
Berkeley UNIX has =style & =diction for proofreading (a small part of
the Writer's Workbench). Near the end of my writing process, I upload
my document to UNIX & grind it through these two programs. One gives
reading difficulty, the other flags often-misused words & phrases.
I suggest you buy "Strunk & White (The Elements of Style)" and use it
to revise your writing. It contains a list of misused words & phrases
too. It can help *prevent* bad writing. An ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure......
Don Gillies {ihnp4!uiucdcs!gillies} U of Illinois
{gillies@p.cs.uiuc.edu}fink@mist.cs.orst.edu (Paul Fink) (02/08/88)
In article <950@usfvax2.UUCP> pollock@usfvax2.usf.edu.UUCP (Wayne Pollock) writes: > > ..................One thing missing from all these grammar checkers is the >ability to customize some of the checks. .............................. >several of the usage and style checks, too. > >Sorry this got to be so long, but you hit me in a tender spot. I am still >waiting for a good grammer and usage checker for the mac, so I hope those who >sell them read this and offer a better checker; remember not everyone uses the >mac to write books; specialty documents require customizable checkers! > There are many things lacking in grammer/spelling checkers but MacProof and Word Tools DO let you customize what is checked. I think MacProof is almost a very good product. (I should run that last sentence through to see what it say.) Word Tools is useless! It is very limited and parses words incorrectly. It finds the word very in the word every. A third checker is called Sensible Grammer I have not seen it. If you want more info write me and I will send you a longer, more coherent review. Paul Fink and no advanced features.