# Is there a spell checker that would work in the post window on my computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 14, 2000, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-spell-checker-that-would-work-in-the-post-window-on-my-computer/36943 "2000-10-14T23:48:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ShakeNBake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@ShakeNBake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShakeNBake)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2000, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-spell-checker-that-would-work-in-the-post-window-on-my-computer/36943/1 "2000-10-14T23:48:43Z")
I hate to move things to Word and back just because I doubt one word. Also Word takes forever to load and then nags about exiting. Anyone know a utility that will do that? Just a simple spellcheck of what’s in this posting window, or perhaps just what’s on the clipboard. ---
**Author:** ![Wicked\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@Wicked\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wicked_Blue)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2000, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-spell-checker-that-would-work-in-the-post-window-on-my-computer/36943/2 "2000-10-15T04:25:54Z")
I use AOL, and I usually type out my posts in an email, spellcheck it, and then c & p it in the reply box. Can you do that? Rose ---
**Author:** ![JoeyBlades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a87d85/32.png) [@JoeyBlades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeyBlades)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2000, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-spell-checker-that-would-work-in-the-post-window-on-my-computer/36943/3 "2000-10-16T13:34:55Z")
I’m not aware of one for Windows, but there’s “SpellTools” for the Macintosh that can spell check virtually any text box in any application. It’s got some other features, as well, such as text stamps, text-to-speech, and some filtering. It’s indespensible and free. I’d love to find an equivalent for Windows… ---
**Author:** ![el\_mono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea666f/32.png) [@el\_mono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/el_mono)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2000, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-spell-checker-that-would-work-in-the-post-window-on-my-computer/36943/4 "2000-10-16T13:39:25Z")
Ever consider a dictionary? Archaic, I know, but damned effective. Sorry to come across as an asshole, but you’ve hit upon a pet peave. Think good thoughts! ---
**Author:** ![JoeyBlades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a87d85/32.png) [@JoeyBlades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeyBlades)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2000, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-spell-checker-that-would-work-in-the-post-window-on-my-computer/36943/5 "2000-10-16T16:25:33Z")
el\_mono: > [@](#): > > Ever consider a dictionary? Archaic, I know, but damned effective. Actually, I have one of those Houghton/Mifflin Word Books that I use quite frequently with my PC. However, having said that, it’s not usually the tricky words that trip me up. It’s the idle typos that I wouldn’t bother to lookup in the first place that I use my spell checkers for. Plus, quite often, in technical or other professional environments, we use words that aren’t in your average dictionary. I suppose I could go about penciling them in, however with electronic versions - it’s a bit more convenient. Spell checkers are invaluable tools. I know of very few professional writers that don’t use them. > [@](#): > > Sorry to come across as an asshole, but you’ve hit upon a pet peave. Well, you is what you is, but don’t assume that just because some of us want to use spell checkers, we’re a bunch of brainless idiots… BTW, “ass hole” is two words… ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2000, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-spell-checker-that-would-work-in-the-post-window-on-my-computer/36943/6 "2000-10-16T16:43:16Z")
I believe [this](http://www.spellonline.com/) is what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Pantology](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@Pantology](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantology)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2000, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-spell-checker-that-would-work-in-the-post-window-on-my-computer/36943/7 "2000-10-16T17:20:00Z")
Back when I learning Visual Basic, I slapped together a few code samples to make a fairly neat applet-type thing with spell check and thesaurus functionality. It’s basically just a small text window with a buttons for each function. Type the word (or your best guess at the word) into the window, and hit the “Spell” or “Thesaurus” button. Works quite well. I’d be happy to send a copy of it to you, if you’d like. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2000, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-spell-checker-that-would-work-in-the-post-window-on-my-computer/36943/8 "2000-10-16T21:38:08Z")
i thoght thee computor diid ah spel chek autmatically. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-spell-checker-that-would-work-in-the-post-window-on-my-computer/36943/9 "2000-10-17T00:01:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by el\_mono \* > \*\*Ever consider a dictionary? Archaic, I know, but damned effective. > > Sorry to come across as an asshole, but you’ve hit upon a pet peave. > > Think good thoughts! \*\* We’ve just hit Gaudere’s Law head-on: “Almost every post correcting an error in spelling or grammar will contain a different error in spelling or grammar.” “peave” is a spelling error. It should be “peeve.” JoeyBlades: Merriam-Webster Online has “asshole,” one word. Welcome to the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![el\_mono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea666f/32.png) [@el\_mono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/el_mono)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-spell-checker-that-would-work-in-the-post-window-on-my-computer/36943/10 "2000-10-17T00:13:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zgystardst \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by el\_mono \* > > \*\*Ever consider a dictionary? Archaic, I know, but damned effective. > > > > Sorry to come across as an asshole, but you’ve hit upon a pet peave. > > > > Think good thoughts! \*\* > > We’ve just hit Gaudere’s Law head-on: “Almost every post correcting an error in spelling or grammar will contain a different error in spelling or grammar.” > > “peave” is a spelling error. It should be “peeve.” > > JoeyBlades: Merriam-Webster Online has “asshole,” one word. > > Welcome to the SDMB. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![el\_mono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea666f/32.png) [@el\_mono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/el_mono)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-spell-checker-that-would-work-in-the-post-window-on-my-computer/36943/11 "2000-10-17T00:24:32Z")
Thanks, Ziggy, for noticing my pitiful attempt at irony. Hoped that someone would. Thanks also for noting that “asshole” is indeed one word (I outta know!). That’s the problem with those damn computer spell checkers! I’ve yet to find one that is reliable and for that reason I opt to resort to the good old archaic, ink and paper dictionary. You just can’t go wrong with 'em. Think good thoughts… ---
**Author:** ![JoeyBlades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a87d85/32.png) [@JoeyBlades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeyBlades)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-spell-checker-that-would-work-in-the-post-window-on-my-computer/36943/12 "2000-10-17T13:57:47Z")
el\_mono: > [@](#): > > JoeyBlades: Merriam-Webster Online has “asshole,” one word. Ahh… but “Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, unabridged” (hard bound) does not. 2662 pages of definitions for more than 450,000 words and not a single one of them is the word “asshole”. I’ve got three other “good old archaic, ink and paper dictionaries” that mysteriously fail to include the word “asshole”. I admit that it does turn up in most on-line dictionaries, but that’s not the standard that el\_mono advocated.