Proofing Tools (Cambridge International IGCSE ICT)

Spell Check Software

Spec point — 15.1.2

What is spell check software?

• Spell check software is **built in to many word processing applications **and compares words typed in a document to those held in its dictionary

• Any words that do not match are flagged and highlighted for the user to check

• Most commonly, flagged words** will be underlined in red**

• If a word is not in the dictionary but is spelt correctly, it will still be flagged

• Most common examples of flagged words that may be spelt correctly include:

  • Proper nouns
  • Words in other languages

Considering automated suggestions

• Automated suggestions provided by spell check software may not always be accurate or appropriate
• The software may not recognise some words or phrases, particularly technical terms or jargon
• Always use your judgement when accepting or rejecting these suggestions

Validation Checks

Spec point — 15.1.3

What are validation checks?

• A validation check is essential to ensure data is accurate, complete, and meets specific criteria before it's processed
• It helps minimise data entry errors and maintains the integrity of the data
• Details of specific validation routines can be found here

Worked Example A document contains the sentence "Fistral Beach is a well-known beach in Cornwall, England". The text is spell checked.

Explain why the word Fistral is flagged as an error

[3]

Answer

Final answer: Fistral is the name of a specific beach and will not be in a dictionary [1] Spell checkers do not include proper nouns [1] It can be added to the dictionary so that it is not flagged if used again [1]