ucbesvax.turner@ucbcad.UUCP (07/13/83)
#N:ucbesvax:6600002:000:835
ucbesvax!turner Jul 12 23:00:00 1983
I propose a "net.spell" for
o those who have spelling problems, but want to improve;
o those who feel a strong urge to correct the spelling
errors of others, in a non-inflammatory manner;
o those who are implementing, or are expert users of,
spelling-checker utilities.
Is this ridiculous? After all, gripes about other people's spelling
seems to fall mostly into the "flame" category. But maybe this sort of
impulse could be usefully channeled if into a spelling newsgroup, even if
it only served to channel flame *away* from more productive discussion.
At any rate, I know, just from reading netnews, that a "net.spell"
would never die. I'm not sure if this is, in itself, a justification
for its existence. What do others think?
Michael ("not `Micheal'!") Turner
ucbvax!ucbesvax.turnerellis@flairvax.UUCP (Michael Ellis) (07/16/83)
Net.spell -- great idea! You don't *know* how hard it is for some of
us* pedants to stifle the *intense* urge to blast every instance of
such misspellings as:
existance practicly exitting
occured(& all Goslingisms) programer parralel
do'nt (& its relatives) sacreligious thourough
proffessor sabbaticle kludge
We pedants *deserve* a place in the sun, just as the flamers received.
Think of it -- some grotesquely unthought article goes by -- shot down
under the fire of a lilliputian army of flamers and *spellers*
challenging the unlucky soul to a duel in their [sic**] chosen parking
lot.
It's a mission...
"...whose GOD CHOSEN DUTY it is to fulfill a lifelong ambition of
giving detailed explanations of the intricacies of 1st century vulgar
Latin palatization of velars followed by front vowels, or the
preponderance of English roots derived from stems in 'capere', not to
mention the unfortunate, yet all too real, effect of the Norman
affectation 'ou' as seen in words such as 'wound'. I can go into
greater detail here, but why belabor the point?"
Rev. Polonius Esterhazy (1784)
We need "net.spell". I vote yes.
Michael Ellis - Fairchild AI Lab - Palo Alto CA - (415) 321-0990
*Correct in spite of the Tareyton commercial. (cf. Jaspersen "English
Grammar", pp. 19874-19875)
**"he / his / him" has been banished in this context. "s/he or they /
their / them" is, for lack of a better alternative (see net.women,
Mar-May '83), taking its place.