Do you use correct spelling and grammar?

[scuba_steves]

Is there an automated grammar check program out there. The few built into Microsoft office rigid , open office non existent...

That I'm aware of, no. At least, not one that can catch the little things. My MSOffice is notorious for switching out the correct "there" for "their" all over the place. Also, if you have a key that sticks, it won't catch any words that are "correct." For example, my "t" key was broken on my old computer, so I have "he"s where there should be "the"s, yet the computer never caught it. The only nearly-failsafe way to avoid English errors is to have a second set of human eyes look it over. Preferably, eyes that speak the same language you're writing in, since English to a Spaniard might be rather difficult to edit.

Lord, my apologies. It's been a rough day.

[DanBR]

Yes when writing e-mails, no when texting. Those who receive texts from me often reprimand (!) me when I try to spell words like you, see, to, and everything else that can be replaced with one character.

But I promise to never do this here.

[vortexkd]

I try! The only exceptions include dialogue where a character wouldn't be using proper grammar. This is mostly because we tend to not really talk in complete sentences in a heated conversation etc. It irritates me a little to read ungrammatical prose, so naturally, I do my level best to keep it all correct.
Of course, while typing, one tends to make quite a few mistakes, both spelling and grammar, so it's important to edit later.

[whybark]

almost never but I am always correcting everyone else

[MatthewAlexander]

Yes, I try to. It bugs me when I go back to read something and the grammar/spelling is incorrect.

[cheshiregator]

When I'm just texting or instant messaging, I don't pay much attention to grammar (though I do still spell properly). However, when I'm writing a story or for a broader audience (like on a forum), I try not to cause the founders of the English language to roll over in their graves.

[anomalocaris]

When I'm writing for publication I do. I won't read a book by anyone who doesn't. I know a lot of younger writers take offense at being expected to write coherently, but here's my thought on it. If you're just writing for fun, sure, write however you feel like writing. Just like, if you're a hobby carpenter making little things for yourself, it doesn't matter whether they're professionally crafted or not. But if you tell me you're a professional carpenter, and I hire you to work on my house, I expect that you're going to have professional level skills. It's the same in any field. Calling yourself a professional and selling your services implies that your skills are above the level of the average hobbyist in the field, and that you know what you're doing and can operate at a professional level. Writing is no different. Any high school kid who likes to make up stories can sit down and write, but that doesn't mean I want to read it. A professional writer should be able to use the tools of the trade -- spelling and grammar -- at a professional level. Also, it seems to me that someone who's not willing to learn to use those tools isn't really taking the craft seriously. It's like someone wanting to be a lifeguard, but unwilling to go to the trouble of learning to swim, or as we say in my part of the country, "All hat and no cattle."

[moderntimes]

Is there an automated grammar check program out there. The few built into Microsoft office rigid , open office non existent...

The most reliable grammar check and spellcheck is between your ears. If you can't create error-free writing then you're going to be finding it very difficult to sell your writing.

My last novel was about 75,000 words and my final submission to the publisher/editor has zero, repeat zero typos or other errors. That was the result of my many late night revisions and reviews of the book after it was "finished" but before I gave my final approval to the publisher to "go to print."

My new novel, now in progress, will be about 85,000 words and I won't be satisfied until it's error free as well.

-- 28 Apr 2014, 15:03 --

if i knew correct spelling and grammar i'd use it. as long as i'm able to get the point across, im good.

I'd be curious to hear how your publisher or agent has felt about this. When I've submitted an article or short story (or novel) for sale, the message is loud and clear from the publishers and editors: If your submission has errors, don't bother.

What has been your success in getting your writing sold if there are lots of grammatical or mechanical errors?

-- 28 Apr 2014, 21:27 --

I frankly would be embarrassed to submit my writing to an agent or publisher/editor that was full of bad spelling and poor grammar. But more important, the submission would likely be sent back, TBNT (thanks but no thanks).

A few errors are almost unavoidable, but sloppy and poor mechanics indicate that the author doesn't give a damn. And if the author doesn't care, why should the reader?

Submitting a piece (essay, article, short story, novel, etc) for publication is rough and tumble at best. Most editors or agents simply refuse to accept submissions that have too many errors. There are many other writers who are waiting in line who have clean and error-free submissions. Most editors simply skip sloppy submissions in lieu of those that are error free.

[Bookworm0266]

I try but I don't always succeed.

[golden arrow]

I generally write every chapter without good grammar then at the end of the chapter I go back and fix it.

[moderntimes]

Same here for typos. I plow ahead and type type type and then fix errors later. I am more at ease with writing fast and then going back and tweaking than I am for working slower and ensuring that everything is perfect sentence by sentence.

[anomalocaris]

I still call that phase "throwing it at the paper," though I rarely use real paper for it anymore.

[David Dawson]

I think this is a really good reason to use good spelling/ grammar:

unless the character you are writing doesn't use correct grammar, and but then you have to be careful to write in a way that readers will recognize that the character is misspelling and not the author f-ing things up.

Using it most of the time means that you have the chance to deliberately use different spelling and grammar to convey something about a character, situation etc. You need to know the rules before you can break them. (A bit like contemporary artists spending years leaning how to draw.

[moderntimes]

I still call that phase "throwing it at the paper," though I rarely use real paper for it anymore.

Exactly right! I write fast at first then go back and pick up the pieces.

Incidentally, earlier today I'd begun a chapter that I'd essentially outlined as the next one, and about 2 pages in, I got very bored with what I was writing. I sat for a minute, thought, realized that the readers wouldn't be very excited about the chapter either. So I junked it and started on a different path, and have subsequently written 3 chapters, all pretty good, before Saturday bedtime!

[anomalocaris]

I think it's really necessary to be able to do that. Some people get really attached to what they're writing, and can't just ditch it when it doesn't work. Then they get stuck trying to fit stuff around the bit that didn't work to begin with, and they end up with a big load of snowballing ugly.