In 1961 a computer scientist named Lester Earnest wrote the first program to check spelling, and it was capable of verifying 10,000 common words in the English language. Software has evolved over the years and most spell-checkers now verify over 1 million words instantly as you type. Many programs also check for grammar, though they often miss errors and don't review for context or intended tone.
Real, living and breathing editors work for Wordzen. They review your emails when you write them in Gmail and then they return to you a revised version that is clear, concise, and grammatically correct. Wordzen is also free.
The next time you have to write a very important email, compose it as carefully as you can, paying special attention to spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Then download the Wordzen app and see how your messages can be improved. You'll be surprised!
Here are 5 common mistakes people often make when writing:
1) They're vs. Their vs. There
One's a contraction for "they are" (they're), one refers to something owned by a group (their), and one refers to a place (there).
2) Your vs. You're
The difference between these two is owning something versus actually being something:
"How's your diet going? Are you hungry?"
"You made it to work early -- you're fast!"
3) Its vs. It's
This one tends to confuse even the best of writers. "Its" is possessive and "it's" is a contraction of "it is." Lots of people get tripped up because "it's" has an 's after it, which normally means something is possessive.
4) Affect vs. Effect
Most people confuse them when they're talking about something changing another thing.
When you're talking about the change itself -- the noun -- you'll use "effect."
"That movie had a great effect on me."
When you're talking about the act of changing -- the verb -- you'll use "affect."
"That movie affected me greatly."
5) i.e. vs. e.g.
Lots of people use the terms interchangeably when trying to elaborate on a point, but they really mean two different things: "i.e." roughly means "that is" or "in other words," while "e.g." means "example given" or "for example." The former is used to clarify something you've said, while the latter adds color to a story through an example.
Labels: email editing, grammar, spell-checker, Wordzen
