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Q: Spelling Suggestion Technology ( Answered 5 out of 5 stars,   0 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Spelling Suggestion Technology
Category: Science > Technology
Asked by: sonicimage-ga
List Price: $100.00
Posted: 27 May 2005 16:34 PDT
Expires: 26 Jun 2005 16:34 PDT
Question ID: 526503
Dear Knowledge Researcher,

There's a very useful function in Google and Yahoo's search engine,
which could be as simple as a spell checker and as advanced as AI.  By
asking "do you mean?" it's suggesting an alternative search.  For
example, if you search for gooogle with three o's it will ask "do you
mean 'google'?" with two o's.  I want to know if this is a spell
checker or very advanced spell checker, or even using fuzzy logic,
artificial intelligence, data modeling, multivariable analysis, or
derivative analysis.  Further, who are the big players in this tech?
Answer  
Subject: Re: Spelling Suggestion Technology
Answered By: adiloren-ga on 31 May 2005 22:30 PDT
Rated:5 out of 5 stars
 
Hello, thank you for the question. Essentially Google spell checking
compares words entered against a constantly changing list of the most
common searches and isolates when a user may have intended to enter a
different word or words. Because it does not depend on a rigid
dictionary, it is more effective in isolating words and phrases that
may be commony used but are often not included in formal dictionaries.
However, the method of comparing words to a database in order to
determine what a user may have intended, is similar to that of more
traditional spell checkers.

In my answer, I have included analysis of how the Google spell check
process works and provided links to other popular spell checking
software/programs.

I hope the information below is helpful. Please request clarification
if you need further assistance with your question.
_____________________________________________________

HOW GOOGLE SPELL CHECKING WORKS:

Google Web Search Features 
://www.google.co.uk/help/features.html
"Google's spell checking software automatically looks at your query
and checks to see if you are using the most common version of a word's
spelling. If it calculates that you're likely to generate more
relevant search results with an alternative spelling, it will ask "Did
you mean: (more common spelling)?". Clicking on the suggested spelling
will launch a Google search for that term. Because Google's spell
check is based on occurrences of all words on the Internet, it is able
to suggest common spellings for proper nouns (names and places) that
might not appear in a standard spell check program or dictionary."

Spelling Corrections (Suggestions) 
http://www.googleguide.com/spelling_corrections.html

"Google engineer Noam Shazeer developed a spelling correction
(suggestion) system based on what other users have entered. The system
automatically checks whether you are using the most common spelling of
each word in your query."

"Google's checker is particularly good at recognizing frequently made
typos, misspellings, and misconceptions. It analyzes all terms in your
query to recognize what you most likely intended to enter. For
example, when you search for [ untied stats ], the spelling checker
suggests Did you mean: "united states", although each individual word
is spelled correctly.

Regardless of whether it suggests an alternative spelling, Google
returns results that match your query if there are any. If there
aren't any that match your query, Google may offer an alternative
spelling, search tips, and a link to Google Answers."

"Google figures out possible misspellings and their likely correct
spellings by using words it finds while searching the web and
processing user queries. So, unlike many spelling correctors, Google
can suggest common spellings for:

*	Proper nouns (names and places) 
*	Words that may not appear in a dictionary "

ASP 101
http://www.asp101.com/articles/jeremy/googlespell/default.asp

"The Google web API "spell check" allows you to send a string of text
and receive alternatives for misspelled words. The power in this web
API is that the Google dictionary includes technology words that are
used in website searches, but may not have been included in a Standard
English dictionary."

"Although limitations exist in the Google web API, it makes a pretty
handy spell check for small sites or intranet applications. The
dictionary and algorithm are all stored off site so you won't need to
update word lists. The best part is that technology words are
corrected as well, For Example: Google is an error in English, however
the web API sees this as a legitimate word."

http://www.flash-db.com/services/?ID=30&sType=Tools
"This service focus's on the spell checking feature of the google web
services. (This is the same service as the google search service,
however we decided it was useful enough to include it on it's own).
Takes a word or phrase as input then returns the corrected version.
Really useful for any type of admin/editing type program.
You must first create a google account on the Service Home page in
order to use the Google Web Service API. After you have registered
with Google, you are assigned a key that is needed to access the
service."

August 28, 2000
Google Adds Spelling Suggestions
http://www.researchbuzz.org/google_adds_spelling_suggestions.shtml

"This "more" link is powered by the spell: special syntax. Enter
spell: followed by a word and Google will provide suggested spellings.
It doesn't appear that you can mix this syntax with any other, though
-- try spell:crak concrit and Google will provide weird phrase
suggestions, starting with crack concrete. (spell:crak spell:concrit
gets even weirder, so don't even.)

Longtime readers will remember that I dinged Raging Search for their
spell suggestions, finding it counter to the idea of a powerful and
friendly engine. Google's spell suggester appears to be more
intelligent than Raging Search. For example, enter Elvis in Google and
Google searches for Elvis without making spelling suggestions. Raging
Search asks if you meant elvish. Enter Elvis Presley and Google
obediently searches for Elvis Presley. Raging Search asks if you meant
elvish, parsley. Feh."

July 08, 2003
Google Highlights Poor Spelling
http://www.mediajunk.com/public/archives/000134.html

"To display the usefulness and range of its spell checker, Google has
listed every single misspelling of the name "Britney Spears" that its
search engine detects over a three-month period.

I did a quick count, and realised Google had detected 592 different
misspellings of "Britney Spears". I wouldn't have guessed there could
be so many wrong spellings of a name that has a total of three
syllables. Some are typos, but many seem to be genuine spelling
faults.

For example, there were 40134 searches for "brittany" spears; 36315
for "brittney"; 24342 for "britany"; 7331 for "britny"; 6633 for
"briteny"; 2696 for "britteny"; and 1635 for "brittny".

Allowances must be made, I suppose, for the fact that a lot of people
searching for Britney Spears don't actually speak English.

Nevertheless, I wonder whether the Google spell checker is improving
people's spelling -- or further deteriorating it. As with word
processors, users may grow to rely on spell checkers doing the
"thinking" for them."



HOW TO ADD GOOGLE SPELL CHECK TO NEW APPLICATIONS:

Dotnet Junkies Tutorial
http://www.dotnetjunkies.com/Tutorial/C333976F-1EA4-42C1-BFEE-63F3C09CD94B.dcik


OTHER POPULAR SPELL CHECKING SOFTWARE:

List of leading spell check software:
http://directory.google.com/Top/Arts/Writers_Resources/Software/Spelling_and_Grammar/Spell_Checkers/

Spelling and grammar options in Microsoft Word 
http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/content/factsheets/Skillsheets.htm 

SpellBound Software
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Browser-Tweak/SpellBound.shtml

"SpellBound is a port of the spellchecker code and user interface from
the Mozilla Suite's Composer that enables spell checking in web forms
such as html text area / input elements (html input password elements
are not checked by SpellBound) and rich text form elements.

This allows you to spell check forms (e.g. message board posts, blog
entries, wysiwyg, etc.) before submitting them when using your Mozilla
Firefox or Mozilla Suite browser."

Spell Check Anywhere: Adds Spell Check To All Windows Programs
http://www.spellcheckanywhere.com/home/programs/Programs_Spell_Check_Anywhere_Can_Spell_Check_In.asp

"Most programs follow a standard of providing text to the user. 
Microsoft set the standard.  Spell Check Anywhere spell checks in all
programs that follow the standard.

The only programs that do not follow these standard are specialty
programs that have to do with high-end graphics.  Soon, we will
support these applications as well.  These make up a small percentage
of applications, and even within those there are usually ways to still
get Spell Check Anywhere spellchecking there too."

IESpell 2.1.1 build 325
http://www.download.com/IESpell/3000-2378_4-10357976.html?tag=lst-4-4

"IESpell is a free Internet Explorer browser extension that
spell-checks text input boxes on a Web page. It should come in
particularly handy for users who do a lot of Web-based text entry
(e.g., Web mail, forums, blogs, diaries). Even if your Web application
already includes spell-checking functionality, this utility is faster
than a server-side solution. Plus, you get to store and use your
personal word list across all your applications instead of maintaining
separate ones on each application. Note: The program installs as a new
button in the IE toolbar (as well as a new menu item under Tools).
After filling in a form, click the IESpell button and it pops up a
dialog similar to the Microsoft Word spell check.>/p>"

ABCSpell for Outlook Express 7.1.2.2
http://www.download.com/ABCSpell-for-Outlook-Express/3000-2369_4-10392818.html

"Enhance Outlook Express with full-featured, automatic spell checking!
ABCSpell installs in seconds and works like part of Outlook Express.
ABCSpell will check spelling before sending mail and displays
suggestions. So easy to use! Our spell checker supports more than 13
languages, so your e-mail messages will always look their best."

Web Browser Spell Check 1.3
http://www.download.com/Web-Browser-Spell-Check/3000-2181_4-10244485.html?tag=lst-0-3
"Web Browser Spell Check allows webmasters to easily add a spell
checker to text boxes and text areas of their web sites. Client-side
technologies are used to perform the check so your web server is not
laden with additional work. Almost no HTML experience is necessary to
implement or configure the Web Browser Spell Check."

Linux/Unix Spellcheckers:

Aspell
http://aspell.sourceforge.net/
?Aspell is an Open Source spell checker designed to eventually replace Ispell. 
Its main feature is that it does a superior job of coming up than just about 
any other spell checker out there for the English language. ?

TeraSpell for Emacs
http://www.firstlinux.com/product/Editors/101.shtml
?Providing the technically most advanced spelling correction system available 
on the market. Fully featured superior correction, tremendous coverage, amazing 
speed, and wide support... complete with on-the-fly spell checking!? 

The WordManager
http://sourceforge.net/projects/wordmanager/
?A program that you can use for almost anything dealing with writing (except 
for the editor). Dictionary, spellchecking, thesaurus, validation. It will use 
current free tools and Internet resources.?  

Web based:

Spellcheck.net
http://www.spellcheck.net/
This is free but there is a 5000-character limit

Web Assist
http://www.webassist.com/Products/ProductDetails.asp?PID=60&ovchn=GGL&ovcpn=AFC-GAD-S-SPELL-General&ovcrn=spell+checkers&ovfrd=Phrase&ovtac=PPC


GOOGLE SEARCH TERMS:

"google spell check" OR "google spell checker"
"spell checking software"
"google spell checking"
google "did you mean"
download.com AND spell check (most popular)

Clarification of Answer by adiloren-ga on 07 Jun 2005 15:29 PDT
Thank you for the tip. I'm glad the answer was helpful. If you need
any additional information related to this topic, feel free to ask.

Thanks again, 
adiloren-ga
sonicimage-ga rated this answer:5 out of 5 stars and gave an additional tip of: $20.00

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