Spellchecker Dangers
This fun poem by Jerrold Zar shows the dangers of relying too much on a spellchecker. By the author's count, 127 of the 224 words of the poem are incorrect, although all individual words are spelled correctly (they just have the wrong meaning). To see the correct version, click on "Correct spelling".
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Candidate for a
Pullet SurpriseI have a spelling checker,
It came with my PC.
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss steaks aye can knot sea.
Eye ran this poem threw it,
Your sure reel glad two no.
Its vary polished in it's weigh.
My checker tolled me sew.
A checker is a bless sing,
It freeze yew lodes of thyme.
It helps me right awl stiles two reed,
And aides me when eye rime.
Each frays come posed up on my screen
Eye trussed too bee a joule.
The checker pours or every word
Too cheque sum spelling rule.
Bee fore a veiling checker's
Hour spelling mite decline,
And if we're lacks oar have a laps,
We wood bee maid too wine.
Butt now bee cause my spelling
Is checked with such grate flare,
Their are know fault's with in my cite,
Of nun eye am a wear.
Now spelling does knot phase me,
It does knot bring a tier.
My pay purrs awl due glad den
With wrapped word's fare as hear.
Too rite with care is quite a feet
Of witch won should bee proud,
And wee mussed dew the best wee can,
Sew flaw's are knot aloud.
Sow ewe can sea why aye dew prays
Such soft wear four pea seas,
And why eye brake in two averse
Buy righting want too pleas.
Jerrold H. Zar |
Candidate for a
Pulitzer Prize
I have a spelling checker,
It came with my PC.
It plainly marks for my review
Mistakes I cannot see.
I ran this poem through it,
You're sure real glad to know.
It's very polished in its way.
My checker told me so.
A checker is a blessing,
It frees you loads of time.
It helps me write all styles to read,
And aides me when I rhyme.
Each phrase composed upon my screen
I trust to be a jewel.
The checker pores o'er every word
To check some spelling rule.
Before availing checkers
Our spelling might decline,
And if we're lax or have a lapse,
We would be made to whine.
But now because my spelling
Is checked with such great flair,
There are no faults within my sight,
Of none I am aware.
Now spelling does not faze me,
It does not bring a tear.
My papers all do gladden
With rapt words fair as here.
To write with care is quite a feat
Of which one should be proud,
And we must do the best we can,
So flaws are not allowed.
So you can see why I do praise
Such software for PCs,
And why I break into a verse
By writing wont to please.
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First published in The Journal of Irreproducible Results, January/February 1994, page 13. Reprinted ("by popular demand") in The Journal of Irreproducible Results, Vol. 45, No. 5/6, 2000, page 20. See www.jir.com/pullet.html. Reproduced with permission.
See also: Want to Get Rid of Typos? It’s Time to Turn Off Spellcheck