seattlepi.com Microsoft Blog: Cursing Word's dictionary

March 30, 2005

Cursing Word's dictionary

The discussion about Microsoft Word's grammar checker is also prompting people to air their complaints about the spelling checker and incorporated dictionary. Here's an e-mail message I received yesterday from writer William Scholen of Renton, Wash., explaining how those tools handle a certain four-letter word, in his experience:

My complaint is with Bill's dictionary and spell checker. As a fiction writer I use obscene words from time to time. When I used WORD 5 the spell checker refused to recognize any of the four letter words that appeared in my writing and would always give suggestions for corrections from way way out in left field. If I made a typo and misspelled a four letter word the spell checker would do the same.
Now I'm using WORD X and the spell check program is slightly improved, but not much. If I use a four letter word for sexual intercourse and spell it correctly the spell checker will go right past it, not tag it as a misspelled word as it used to in WORD 5. But if I use the dictionary and type in the word to get a definition the program won't recognize it and will offer some other word with different spelling and totally unrelated definiton. I have a Random House Unabridged Dictionary on CD-ROM that is my main dictionary. There are about fourteen definitions for that same four letter word for intercourse, among other things.

The same is true for a slew of other curse words that any fiction writer might use from time to time. All of this is obviously done by design. Are Bill's prissy middle class morals at the root of it? Yes, I think. I just wish the guys at Microsoft would grow up and produce a really good uncensored dictionary.

Posted by Todd Bishop at March 30, 2005 12:00 PM

Comments

*laugh* I could just imagine an uncensored dictionary. Would it be rated like a video game?

SON: Mom, I found a dictionary.

MOM (looks at CD-ROM dictionary): Sorry, but it's not apppropriate for your age group.

SON: Huh?

MOM (points to rating): It's rated 'M' for 'Mature'.

I'm not sure if it's a matter for the Politically Correct or just one of those things....

Posted by: Elizabeth Anne Ensley at March 31, 2005 08:05 AM

If you think curse words are a problem in the spell and grammar checker, try racial slurs. The thesaurus responds as if such words don't exist. I guess we all might wish such words didn't exist, but as long as the attitudes do, the words will be in the lexicon, though maybe not in Word's spell and grammar checkers. How much cleansing should any dictionary do?

Posted by: Bradley Bleck at March 31, 2005 08:56 PM

In fact, curse words and certain slurs ARE REMOVED from our dictionaries and lexicons specifically due to situations as indicated above.

Our legal department is quite busy and does not need the added work.

If you wish to swear, curse and hurl epithets, you'd better be able to spell them. Because we won't help you.

Posted by: anonymous at April 1, 2005 05:23 PM

I do not wish to sound prissy, but the world of literature would be enhanced by writers not using such language. Gritty reality is not necessary: remember you are writing fiction. Your writing will be enhanced and your readership base broader.

However, a dictionary should not be censored in this way. It should simply be a catalogue of words and their definitions, totally devoid of politics and arbitrary censorship.

Posted by: malcolm sutcliffe at April 7, 2005 02:50 PM

Cheap Lamisil, treat fungus with Lamisil.

Posted by: Cheap Lamisil at May 2, 2005 02:02 PM

I agree with you about the way you view the issue. I remember, long time ago, Jack London said something like "Everything positive has a negative side; everything negative has a positive side." I also find it interesting to see different points of views and learn useful things in the discussion.

Posted by: Richard Hill at May 25, 2005 08:59 AM

Posted by: jelq at May 25, 2005 08:53 PM

I agree with you the way you view the issue. I remember Jack London once said everything positive has a negative side; everything negative has positive side. It is also interesting to see different viewpoints & learn useful things in the discussion.

Posted by: extender at October 6, 2005 07:19 PM


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