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Subject:Re: Grammar and Style Checkers From:Dickie Selfe <rselfe -at- MTU -dot- EDU> Date:Wed, 29 Sep 1993 15:56:46 -0600
>The SME asked for a
>copy of the final draft of the paper, ran it through a grammar
>checker, and made "corrections" that the software had suggested
>that were WRONG! In other words, the SME put the word of the
>grammar checker above the skill of the tech writer.
>Doesn't that beat all?
>LaVonna
You put your finger on the problem. The error rates for the various
products are substantial. Those of you who have mentioned using GCs
haven't mentioned those relative error rates as a method for choosing
software. Any suggestions.
Also, in an educational institution GC are an interesting way of teaching
grammar to those who already know a good deal about the way the language
works. But GCs are dangerous for novice writers. Like the SME, those
students often believe the GC before their own (accurate) intutions.
Dickie Selfe 102 Walker
rselfe -at- mtu -dot- edu Michigan Technological U.
906-487-3225 Houghton, MI 49931
