grammar checker wrongly thinks "its" possessive should be "it's"

[Cathampton]

The grammar checker in Word should have its grammar right. In this case, it
doesn't. Perhaps the wizards of Washington, the Microsoft programmers, can
fix this error. I am using Office 2003.

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http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...8&dg=microsoft.public.word.application.errors

 

[TF]

Very often the grammar checker will underline something it is unsure about -
such as possessives, their/they're, advice/advise and more too. My guess is
that English is so complex that the grammar checker is highlighting so that
the user is able to ensure that the word used is correct.

'It's' and 'its' is a particularly difficult point of grammar to write into
a rule as there are so many ways they can be used in text - so in your
instance, it has probably underlined its as a precaution.



: The grammar checker in Word should have its grammar right. In this case,
it
: doesn't. Perhaps the wizards of Washington, the Microsoft programmers,
can
: fix this error. I am using Office 2003.
:
: ----------------
: This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
: suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
: Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow
this
: link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
: click "I Agree" in the message pane.
:
:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...8&dg=microsoft.public.word.application.errors

 

[Guest]

Very often the grammar checker will underline something it is unsure
about -
such as possessives, their/they're, advice/advise and more too. My guess
is
that English is so complex that the grammar checker is highlighting so
that
the user is able to ensure that the word used is correct.

'It's' and 'its' is a particularly difficult point of grammar to write
into
a rule as there are so many ways they can be used in text - so in your
instance, it has probably underlined its as a precaution.

Sorry Terry. Don't agree that it is (it's!) complicated. My understanding is
that apostrophe s is used for possession (the room's atmosphere), but in the
one case where it indicates a missing letter this takes precedence and it
cannot be used for possession too. So it's a fine day means it is a fine
day; its (no ') own image means the image belonging to it.

Not trying to be picky but I see that as fairly simple.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

But you are a human being, able to distinguish parts of speech and meaning.
It is absurd to expect a computer to be able to do everything a human being
can do (thank goodness!).

 

[TF]

Well its is an example where the rule doesn't apply. It's is only used when
it is an abbreviation of 'it is'. Its is used for possessive - never 'it's'
for possessive.

As Suzanne said, English is far too complex for a computer to understand.
There are virtually no grammar rules without as many exceptions are there
agreements to the rule. Check how the grammar checker plays with a plural
collective such as 'staff'! Even though I am a hardened grammar snob, I
frequently trip up. Word doesn't do too bad a job but it is far from
perfect.

terry

:
: "TF" <terryfarrell%40%6d%73%6e%2ecom> wrote in message
: : > Very often the grammar checker will underline something it is unsure
: > about -
: > such as possessives, their/they're, advice/advise and more too. My guess
: > is
: > that English is so complex that the grammar checker is highlighting so
: > that
: > the user is able to ensure that the word used is correct.
: >
: > 'It's' and 'its' is a particularly difficult point of grammar to write
: > into
: > a rule as there are so many ways they can be used in text - so in your
: > instance, it has probably underlined its as a precaution.
: >
: > --
: > Terry Farrell - Word MVP
:
:
: Sorry Terry. Don't agree that it is (it's!) complicated. My understanding
is
: that apostrophe s is used for possession (the room's atmosphere), but in
the
: one case where it indicates a missing letter this takes precedence and it
: cannot be used for possession too. So it's a fine day means it is a fine
: day; its (no ') own image means the image belonging to it.
:
: Not trying to be picky but I see that as fairly simple.
:
: > : > : The grammar checker in Word should have its grammar right. In this
: > case,
: > it
: > : doesn't. Perhaps the wizards of Washington, the Microsoft
programmers,
: > can
: > : fix this error. I am using Office 2003.
: > :
: > : ----------------
: > : This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
: > : suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click
the
: > "I
: > : Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button,
follow
: > this
: > : link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and
: > then
: > : click "I Agree" in the message pane.
: > :
: > :
: >
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...8&dg=microsoft.public.word.application.errors
: >
: >
:
: