I see in the FAQS that one of the features that has been disabled is the editing of one’s posts.
However, I humbly request that decision to be reversed, because quite frequently I detect the typos just after clicking on “Submit” :smack:, and I would love to be able to fix them on the spot.
Maybe if you allow modification only while there have been no replies, everybody (or at least I) would be very happy.
Then click “Preview” instead.
This is a common newbie request, and it isn’t going to happen because there’s too much possibility of abuse and the board is already overworked. Most of us have learned to try to remember to use the preview button.
Very very rarely, mods will edit a post for you, but only if there is a grave, yet unintentional error (usually a coding mess) AND if you ask very very nicely. Simple typos that do not seriously affect your meaning and things you wrote that you now want to take back do not fall into this category.
We all understand that typos will creep in from time to time. It’s OK, really. (Copyeditor speaking here – I make goofs along with everyone else.) There’s no need to post corrections for misspellings and the like, but it does help to do so if your typing really got garbled, or if you left out a “not” and it’s not clear. As long as you make an effort to use standard English (and it appears that you are doing fine), you’ll be OK.
Welcome to the SDMB, and enjoy your stay.
Of course I know what the “Preview” button is for, and I use it.
However, it happens all the time (to me) that you just don’t see your error until it is too late and the post is gone. I, not being an English native speaker, have a hard time picking the right word for what I want to say, and usually a better way comes to my mind just upon submittal.
Besides, having an “Edit” button there and not being able to use it annoys me.
Life can be defined as ‘that which annoys us’ - it certainlky would be nice to be able to edit posts, but on another board I’ve seen posters go back and edit out controversial (or just plain dumb) statements after they were called on them. The SDMB takes the ‘fighting ignorance’ ethic too seriously to allow this to happen.
I believe it is possible to configure the software to allow edits within a time window. I’m not sure if it is possible the other way (allow editing only if there has not been a reply) - but that probably wouldn’t be much use anyway - in the case of some really busy threads, when you post, you’ll see another post right after yours as soon as the thread is reloaded, so you’d miss the opportunity to edit.
As others have said; typos aren’t that big of a deal, or in those cases where they are (serious coding screw ups or missing out the word ‘not’), the mods will usually be happy to help (I think I’m right in saying that they don’t mind you using the ‘report this post to a moderator’ to effect the communication.
Sometimes ya gotta proofread and Preview more than once. I know every time I make a revision to a post, I proofread it an additional time. I am a native English speaker, and I preview my posts at least twice, to make sure everything’s as I want it.
And, please note, what’s the big deal if there’s a minor mispelling in a post?
While I have no doubt that you (and most posters) are mature and responsible and would not misuse or abuse the power to edit, there are plenty of posters who have none of those traits, and would not hesitate editing their posts to cause confusion and troubles and jokes and…
If you make a typo that causes serious problems or misreading (for instance, if you typed “now” when you meant “not”, say), email a Mod and we’ll be happy to edit for you.
Yeah, but Dex, when you edit your post, it’s stamped Last Edited by This Dude at This Time. It’s not like you can go back in and change stuff stealthily.
Still, it’s a typo. Deal. 
Based on a recommendation here I installed the ieSpell text input box spell checker, which works on most Windows versions.
Works fine for me and it’s free.
No.
Now move along young feller and pay attention to what you speel.
DAGNABIT!!!
[sub]Gaudere’s Law bites imthjkcaz in the ass again![/sub]
I’m a member of another message board that uses vBulletin, and you have 1 min. to edit your post. Works nicely.
I would like to change my original request to:
REMOVE the %&#% “Edit” button!
My father used to say something like “If there is a door, why is it open?; if it should be open, why is there a door?”.
The edit button is there so that moderators and administrators can edit posts.
Jesus. Take a deep breath DeepField. And relax. And your father makes no sense.
There’s an old saying: “Practice makes perfect.” As you post and read more in English, you’ll get better at picking words that mean exactly what you want.
Just out of curiosity, what’s your native tongue?
Yes, sometimes you catch a typo, just as it’s too late to fix it. Wouldn’t this also occur with an allowed editing window, though? “Oh, no! I misspelled supercalifragilisticexpialidocious there! But it’s ten minutes and five seconds since I posted!”
If you really want a ten-minute editing window, then preview your post, then wait ten minutes before submitting it. It’d have the same effect.