Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cornell!rochester!uhura.cc.rochester.edu!mpip
From: mpip@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Robert Annechiarico)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Need Recommendations On Grammar/Style Checkers
Message-ID: <2915@ur-cc.UUCP>
Date: 31 Aug 89 16:21:12 GMT
References: <4875@bgsuvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: mpip@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Eric Carleen)
Organization: University of Rochester
Lines: 47

In article <4875@bgsuvax.UUCP> jimison@bgsuvax.UUCP (Bryan Jimison) writes:
>Can anyone recommend a Grammer/Style checker that runs on the Macintosh?
>I am looking for something that checks for common grammatical errors and
>possibly evaluates what audience level the document is suited for.

I asked the same question about 10 days ago, and intended to wait a couple
more days before I summarized the responses.  I guess that now is good
enough.

Two people responded (THANKS!); a summary isn't necessary...  I've attached
the replies.

Eric



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My personal opinion is that the programs that are available aren't 
worth diddly.  I got suckered into buying Doug Clapp's Word Tools
because it has his name on it and I respect him, but it was only after
I bought the package that I found out that he was looking to get his
name off the product in any way he could.  I guess he still hasn't
succeeded, but...

The grammar checkers provide some value, I guess, but they certainly don't
revolutionize your writing... at least DC'sWT.  Wait until something comes
out that uses some form of AI and expect to pay a bundle.
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and


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Summary: I'll sell you Word Tools, cheap. These programs are more
bother than they are worth. You are much better off sitting down and
reading a grammar primer. You'll be surprised how much of it will
stick now, as opposed to when you were a kid.

What happens with these programs is they flag parts of your writing as
flawed. After a while you know when you're composing something that WT
is going to complain so you rewrite it. You know what it's looking for.

Every time you write `her' or `his' it complains "Are you sure this
isn't a sexist phrase?" Most of the time it isn't unless you're from
the Bronx...
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