How do you check your grammar errors before posting?

1. 78

   manlypoetrymanposted 13 years ago

   Whit kind'a graemmer eerrors are ya' talking about?

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      Daffy Duckposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I write my hubs on a word document then I copy and paste them to hubpages.

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         earnestshubposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Am I the only dumb-ass who just puts it up and hopes for the best?
         
         I dunno, word threatens me with all sorts of errors such as "passive sentence" and tries to talk me out of writing stuff and steals all my best words like smurgolocious pretending it is not a real word then swiping it and storing it somewhere to give to Microsoft.
         
         I don''t trust Bill Gates software since he started giving all those billions to charity.
         
         
         Seriously I think I may just be dead slack!

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            Lady_Eposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Lol. I like this comment.

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               earnestshubposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Me too!

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2. 0

   Sherlock221bposted 13 years ago

   I have used online grammar checks before, but don't think much of them.  One checker suggested that using the word "lady" was sexist, suggesting that "woman" was the correct word to use.  Yet, the use of "gentleman" went without comment.

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   1. 94

      Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      There is no grammar checker that does a better job than the human mind that understands how words come together to make meaning.
      
      You check your grammar errors before posting by knowing the rules of grammar. No software can do this for you.

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         Peter Owenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Well said - people are constantly looking for technology to solve shortcomings.

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            Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Precisely.

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3. 78

   Uninvited Writerposted 13 years ago

   I use Word

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4. 60

   austere125riversposted 13 years ago

   Thanks to everybody, but Microsoft Word cannot correct grammatical errors, right?
   There are some smart sites that can correct grammatical errors, but you have to pay.

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      Urbane Chaosposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I use Word 2007, and it does a pretty decent job of correcting grammatical errors.  It also has different reports you can run, such as passive sentences and reading ease.  I always write first with word, then move it to my hub.

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5. 92

   Just Ask Susanposted 13 years ago

   I use word, and hope that I have not made any mistakes. I am too cheap to buy a program

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      Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      No program can do better than your educated and trained mind. Don't waste your money.

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         Urbane Chaosposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         This is true...
         
         ...but at the same time, there are instances where a little extra help is needed.  Occasionally, word does pick up on little things here and there.  When it does, I always go back and re-read the sentence to make sure that it's right.  Most of the time, I don't have to worry, but sometimes, the program suggests a re-ordering of words that I wouldn't have thought of.

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            Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            That's because you already have a grounding in grammar. You're not looking to Word to fix everything that's wrong, only to suggest an alternative to something you might have missed. Word is somewhat good for that, but more times than not, it's WAY off the mark.

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            1. 90

               Urbane Chaosposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               You're right about that.. sometimes it does have the tendency to come up with things that are slightly bizarre.
               
               Word still has it's advantages outside of grammar checking though.  It catches a lot of misspelled words, and I've found the reading reports to be invaluable.  Also, my dictation software works perfect with word, which is a huge added bonus.
               
               Word should never be used in place of a good education, but, like any tool, it should be used as such.

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                  Joy56posted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  you just cannot beat a good education

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                     Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     Absolutely, agreed.
                     
                     And I'd like to add that education about writing skills can come from experiences in high school or college or much, much later in life. It depends on whether you really, really want to communicate so that others can understand you.
                     
                     There is no excuse for faulty grammar when you want to write a public piece. Grammar checkers might be helpful, but only to the extent that you understand the rules of grammar in the first place.

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                     1. 90

                        Urbane Chaosposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        You hit it right on here..
                        
                        Learning is an on-going process that shouldn't ever end after high school or college.  With writing, I don't believe that anyone ever stops learning.

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6. 85

   Eleanor's Wordsposted 13 years ago

   I don't use anything, just read it carefully myself and hope I spot any errors.

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7. 78

   Uninvited Writerposted 13 years ago

   While Word does not get it right all the time, it is very good. I can usually find what they miss.

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      Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Word grammar checking will often confuse, and if you are of a sort of mind that goes down irrelevant paths just for the hell of it, then Word is your worst grammar enemy.

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      earnestshubposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I just type into whatever space I have to type in to, be it a forum a form or a  hub text capsule, hope for the best, then find my errors a couple of years later!

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8. 63

   WoodsmensPostposted 13 years ago

   That little wizard who watches over word does a pretty good job at correcting grammar, I always wondered what his name was or is? 
   
   Actually  I don't check for grammar errors before posting to the forums

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      Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      He/it sucks, just like the Paper Clip. Or is it the paper clip about whom you are speaking?

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9. 61

   Mark Ewbieposted 13 years ago

   I use Word. It picks up typos and misspellings. I also notice the grammar suggestions.  Sometimes I will accept what it says and simplify a sentence construction, because I do tend to write slightly back to front long winded sentences on a first pass.
   
   I tend to just type and type my first draft - it will need a reread and edit anyway, regardless of the grammar and typo issues.
   
   At least it makes the job of building a Hubpage easy - becuase by that time I have a fully constructed piece ready to cut and paste.  And of course I have a copy just in case.

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10. 84

    jm72writesposted 13 years ago

    I use Word for the spelling and grammar.  If there are grammar issues, I change it even if it doesn't look wrong to me.  Like the fact that it recognizes sentence fragments.  A lot of writing uses fragments for a casual sound in the article, but many professional sites won't use it, so I change it. 
    After I check with Word, I read it over myself looking for specific things that I have a tendency to have problems with.  I may have to look at it two or three times to make sure I caught everything (and I'm sure I still miss some).  I know it sounds like a lot of work, but I think it's a good practice to get into if I should ever write for someone else.

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11. 75

    classicalgeekposted 13 years ago

    I find that I catch at least 95% of my grammatical errors simply by starting at the end of my article, and reading the sentences aloud, one at a time. Then I back up through the article.
    
    If I need a very complex sentence, and I am not sure of the grammar, I diagram it in my head.
    
    Earnestshub, I believe the word you are looking for is actually spelt smurgolocutious (the last half of that word meaning "full of words"). I look forward to reading your hub on smurgs. I must admit that I have not thought much about two midgets fighting in the vicinity of a power cable until you mentioned it (see the Urban Dictionary).
    
    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=smurg

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       earnestshubposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Goodness me! I should have spell checked shouldn't I?
       
       Many people have not considered two midgets fighting under a power line, so don't feel bad about it, no biggy.
       
       I like to think of it as a very small niche subject myself.
       
       I tried writing about smurgs without the long-tail and got very few hits......the niche was too broad I suppose.

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12. 0

    Lady_Eposted 13 years ago

    I've always typed my articles in Microsoft Word and then copied them into Hub Capsules, but always proof read prior to copying.
    
    Good Luck.

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13. 68

    tamronposted 13 years ago

    I use a plugin and it works great but it doesn't work in word or any other program it does however work with Google docs.  It works when you make comments,forum post, and in most tett editors

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14. 68

    tamronposted 13 years ago

    I use a plugin or extinction and it works great but it doesn't work in word or any other program it does however work with Google docs.  It works when you make comments,forum post, and in most text editors such as hubpages.  It catches some grammar mistakes and some miss use of words.  Like your you're or there or their http://www.afterthedeadline.com/ I believe you must have firefox but it might work on other browsers and its free and it does not slow your computer down.

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15. 71

    Jeff Berndtposted 13 years ago

    I use both the spellchecker in Word and my own eyes to proofread. I wish I had the means to hire a proofreader other than myself, because when a person reads his own writing, he can miss errors that he'd catch in something he didn't write.

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       Sally's Troveposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Every good writer needs a proofreader, and more times than not, an editor. I am lucky to have a daughter who has this critical eye. She proofs and edits for me and I dog-sit for her, among a few other things. So, we have a trade that works. I think I get the better end of the deal.
       
       You may find that you have a friend out there somewhere, with that eye, with whom you can trade.

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16. 57

    ianrobposted 5 years ago

    I use a combination of tools like Typely (https://editor.typely.com) which I enjoy because it stays away from grammar and it has a feature where it reads back your text and Hemingway to chop down on passive voice and hedging although Typely incorporates many of its features already.
    
    
    Often times I also use Grammarly when the job is serious and I need to double check on grammar.

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