Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!SPAR-20.ARPA!HAYES From: HAYES@SPAR-20.ARPA.UUCP Newsgroups: comp.ai.digest Subject: Grammar Checkers Message-ID: <12300770189.45.HAYES@SPAR-20.ARPA> Date: Fri, 8-May-87 13:08:45 EDT Article-I.D.: SPAR-20.12300770189.45.HAYES Posted: Fri May 8 13:08:45 1987 Date-Received: Thu, 14-May-87 05:12:29 EDT References: Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Distribution: world Organization: The ARPA Internet Lines: 17 Approved: ailist@stripe.sri.com On 'Style checkers'. Of course one shouldnt criticise to extremes, and no doubt a competent adult would find these things useful sometimes. That wasnt what I was complaining about: it was using them to INFLUENCE children. The word was chosen carefully. Marvin isnt going to think that the thing should be taken as an authority on how to write, or that in order to write well he should simply arrange that the style checker doesnt find any problems. But if they are used to grade or influence the way children write in a school setting, that is exactly what almost all kids will rapidly decide. ( Unless an extraordinarily good teacher is in charge, and maybe even then. Just think of the pressures on a teacher to come to rely on the programs judgement, and on a pupil to take the machine as authoritative. The machine finds no fault with Joes essay and complains about Bettys, but the teacher gives Betty a higher grade..... ) Pat Hayes -------