lm03_cif@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Larry Moss) (10/15/89)
For some time I've been looking for a UNIX spell checker that will offer suggestions for the proper spellings of words it doesn't know. If somehting like this exists, I'd be very interested in hearing about it. If you don't know of one available, but you can offer any advice on writing somehting like this, I'd like to hear from you too. I'd like to write this but it would be a much bigger task than I have the time for now. Thanks, Larry -- lm03_cif@uhura.cc.rochester.edu / CLARKE'S THIRD LAW: lmo3_ltd@db2.cc.rochester.edu / Any sufficiently advanced technology is lmo3_ltd@uordbv.bitnet / indistinguishable from magic.
rock@rancho.uucp (Rock Kent) (10/16/89)
On 15 Oct 89 14:51:00 GMT, lm03_cif@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Larry Moss) said: Larry> For some time I've been looking for a UNIX spell checker that will offer Larry> suggestions for the proper spellings of words it doesn't know. If Larry> something like this exists, I'd be very interested in hearing about it. Seems I remember another request like this a little while ago -- so I'm posting this response. I use *ispell* together with GNUemacs. *ispell* validates the spelling of words against a dictionary and offers candidates for correct spellings of words not in the dictionary. It selects those candidates, I believe, on the basis of single character errors and transposition errors. If that's not adequate, I sure that the source for *ispell* would be better than starting from scratch. *ispell* can also be used interactively from the command line to check the spelling in a file. *ispell* source (shar files) was available from uunet, osu-cis, aeras, and bigtex the last time I looked. *************************************************************************** *Rock Kent rock@rancho.uucp POB 8964, Rancho Sante Fe, CA. 92067* ***************************************************************************
gordon@prls.UUCP (Gordon Vickers) (10/16/89)
In article <3342@ur-cc.UUCP> lm03_cif@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Larry Moss) writes:
->For some time I've been looking for a UNIX spell checker that will offer
->suggestions for the proper spellings of words it doesn't know. If
->somehting like this exists, I'd be very interested in hearing about it.
Sometime last year, I posted a program called 'soundslike' to
comp.unix.sources. Check your local archive. If you can't find it,
I'll send a copy to thoughs who request it. If I receive many request,
maybe I can get it reposted to comp.unix.sources. (I think it was posted,
I went on vacation right after I submitted the source).
Soundslike uses the soundex algorthym and consults either /usr/dict/words
or some other wordlists (if specified as an argument). This program
should not be confused with the program 'sl' that created it's own database
to consult.
My program is easy to use, you need only to get the first letter correct,
and spell the remaining phonetically. I normally use this program from
vi. The spelling checker I use makes a list of 'unacceptable' words and
calls vi so I can edit the list. Using vi's shell escape feature to call
'soundslike' really speeds up the process of correcting spelling errors.
Soundslike is written in 'C' , contains comments and explains the
simple algorthym so it can be easily ported to your favorite lanquage.
The algorthym used was taken from an article I read and may not be complete
or even accurate but it does work well.
I haven't used either program on this article though. :-)
Gordon Vickers 408/991-5370 (Sunnyvale,Ca); {mips|pyramid|philabs}!prls!gordon
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