Auto-correct question

[Eric_NY]

I'm trying to figure out how Autocorrect works. I have always thought that it
was primarily based on a list of incorrect words which Word automatically
replaces with the correct word.

But I've noticed that it goes beyond this. For example, I was trying to type
"account and", but I typed "accounta nd" instead. Word corrected it for me.

Is this part of the Autocorrect feature, or is it a different feature? How
can I read more about how it works?

I'm using Word 2003.

Thanks.

 

[Stefan Blom]

The AutoCorrect feature *is* based on a list of entries and their
replacements; you can see the list in the AutoCorrect dialog box: On the
Tools menu, click AutoCorrect Options, and look at the AutoCorrect tab. For
more on the AutoCorrect feature, see
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/customization/AutoCorrect.htm.

 

[Eric_NY]

Maybe I didn't explain well. Word corrected my "accounta nd" to "account
and". But there is nothing in the list of Autocorrect entries which seems to
explain this. "accounta" is not listed and "nd" is not listed.

Possibly it's not the "Autocorrect" feature which does this, but there is
some Word feature which performs this correction. That's the feature that I'm
trying to identify, and I'd like to understand more specifically how it works
and what options it might provide.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Stefan Blom]

The correction could be made by the spellchecker. See also
http://sbarnhill.mvps.org/WordFAQs/MasterSpellCheck.htm.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I don't think this can be a spell check issue, because the speller checks
only individual words, not combinations of words. If this were an issue of
"accountand" (rather than "accounta nd"), and even if Eric had the box
checked in AutoCorrect Options to "Automatically use suggestions from the
spelling checker," this option kicks in only when there is just a single
suggested correction. While "account and" is one of the suggestions for
"accountand," there are three others, and the first one is "accountant."

I cannot think of any explanation for this correction if there is no
AutoCorrect entry involved.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[Paul B]

I'm trying to figure out how Autocorrect works. I have always thought that it
was primarily based on a list of incorrect words which Word automatically
replaces with the correct word.

But I've noticed that it goes beyond this. For example, I was trying to type
"account and", but I typed "accounta nd" instead. Word corrected it for me.

Is this part of the Autocorrect feature, or is it a different feature? How
can I read more about how it works?

I'm using Word 2003.

Thanks.

It could be AC's "automatically use corrections from the spell
checker" option.

p.

 

[Paul B]

I don't think this can be a spell check issue, because the speller checks
only individual words, not combinations of words. If this were an issue of
"accountand" (rather than "accounta nd"), and even if Eric had the box
checked in AutoCorrect Options to "Automatically use suggestions from the
spelling checker," this option kicks in only when there is just a single
suggested correction. While "account and" is one of the suggestions for
"accountand," there are three others, and the first one is "accountant."

I cannot think of any explanation for this correction if there is no
AutoCorrect entry involved.

Strange, it's definitely related to 'use suggestions from spell
check', since it doesn't occur when that is disabled. But in
repeated testing here AC made the substitution every other time
only, without fail.

p.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Well, I confess I didn't test this, but if it does work this way, then it is
scarier than I thought!

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[Stefan Blom]

I have to admit I haven't looked so closely at it either, but I'm not
surprised. Sometimes, Word is scary.

 

[Cheryl Flanders]

I can't produce this scenario in Word 2007. Perhaps it has been
fixed?

Cheryl

 

[Tony Jollans]

Scary, yes, but Word is actually pretty clever with this kind of construct.
It _uses_ spell checker suggestions in its own way, it doesn't just blindly
take an only one and disregard multiples.

As well as "accounta nd" it will correct "accounte nd", for example, or
"accountp eriod", or, perhaps less likely and just for fun, if you put an
extra space in "accountant" and type "accounta nt", you'll get "account
ant".

It's easy to find examples, and if you're a clumsy typist like me, it
happens a lot and I'm very glad that it does. Essentially, as I understand
it, if the previous word is marked as a spelling error that can be
'corrected' by the removal of the last letter and the addition of that
single letter to the beginning of the current misspelled word also results
in a correction, it will be assumed that the space has simply been
misplaced.

 

[Paul B]

Tony, I agree it's a good and natural function of spellcheck. But
that it works only every *other* time doesn't seem right.

p.

 

[Tony Jollans]

I'm not sure what you mean, Paul. Can you give me an example of a string of
text that you type, and what the end result is for you?

 

[Paul B]

I'm not sure what you mean, Paul. Can you give me an example of a string of
text that you type, and what the end result is for you?

From memory: If I type "accounta nd", the first time Word will
correct it via spell check to "account and". Then if I change it
back to "accounta nd", now Word will leave it alone as a spelling
error.

This every-other-time behavior was repeatable.

p.

 

[Tony Jollans]

That is normal behaviour. If you change it back to what it was before a
correction, Word assumes that you didn't want the correction that time. If
you type it again somewhere else, Word treats that independently and
corrects it.

 

[Stefan Blom]

Also, note that instead of "changing it back" you can press Ctrl+Z to Undo
the auto-correction.

 

[Paul B]

That is normal behaviour. If you change it back to what it was before a
correction, Word assumes that you didn't want the correction that time. If
you type it again somewhere else, Word treats that independently and
corrects it.

I see. I'm typing it in the same place, but I'm sure the logic is
the same. Makes sense, actually.

Thanks,
p.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

On the contrary, Word sometimes takes the hint and figures if you didn't
want it corrected the first time then maybe that's what you meant, and so it
will leave it alone thenceforward (at least for that document or Word
session).

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[Tony Jollans]

I can't say I've ever observed that behaviour.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Maybe I'm making it up? (I've been known to imagine such things.) And
perhaps I've just noticed it on single instances, as you describe (wrt auto
correction of quotes and the like).

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org