It’s no secret. I’m known as the blogger who has atrocious spelling errors, poor grammar, and poor punctuation. At first, I was always embarrassed about it. Later, it got so I did my best and moved on. Being such an active person makes me have to let some things go….and the editing of the blog, I let go. Yes, I tried but I didn’t agonize over it. I got to the point that I could either re-read and re-read again and again and still not have it perfect or I could move on and write another post. So often for me, I get called away mid writing and I end up thinking a post was complete but actually I needed to proofread it.
My errors have been so bad that people have commented about them in the comment section. I’ve let that all pass. Admittedly, I’ve known it was bad.
Well, Kayla came to the rescue not so long ago…
It’s an app called Grammarly. I love it. I love it a lot.
I think you all have unknowingly been appreciating it too!! I’ve had it for almost a month now and I really think the quality of the punctuation, spelling errors, and editing flaws has improved immensely! Have you noticed it? It’s okay if you say YES! I know it’s been really bad in the past.
The program is super easy to use. It’s more or less an advanced version of spell-check. You have to use Google Chrome as your browser for it to work…that’s the only catch. You can find the app for Grammarly HERE.
So what does it do? Let me show you…Here are a few errors that the program has caught in just the writing of this post. Some I might have caught by re-reading, many I wouldn’t have.
In the first sentence of this post, I wanted to write the word atrocious. I had no idea what the real spelling was. I typed something I thought was close. The program underlined the word.
I hovered the mouse over it. The program gave me the proper spelling and I clicked it.
The word changed.
That’s much like regular spell-check. It seems to catch so many more things though.
Did you know proofread was one word?
Did you know spell-check is suppose to have a hyphen?
Here is something I often do…I typed in a similar word. I typed ‘as active’ but meant to type ‘an active’. Regular spell check wasn’t catching that for me.
I have LOTS more commas now.
I’m spelling more words correctly.
I’m not writing the same word twice.
I honestly feel like I have a secretary helping me. I know I’m not going to be perfect but I feel like my grammar and spelling are going from a D+ grade to a B. I can handle a B. Getting a B wasn’t embarrassing. Getting a D+, that was embarrassing.
The Grammarly App is entirely free for Google Chrome users. Again, you can find the app for Grammarly HERE. I highly recommend it.
I can’t say that I noticed the improvement, but I have noticed the errors. They bother me, and it’s not just your errors. Your, you’re and to, too make me the most crazy. Thanks for caring enough to try to fix the problem!!
Several of the blogs I read have errors. I just overlook them. I’m not perfect either. Especially when I’m typing a Facebook post or comment. Would Grammarly help with those?
I believe that I do a fairly good job writing my blog, but I’m sure I have plenty of comma errors and a few misspelled words here and there. Having Grammarly serve as a secretary sounds like a BIG time saver! Thanks for sharing, Jo.
Once in a while I’d notice a mistake, but who doesn’t make mistakes once in a while. Now if I was paying for your blog, I might say something, but this isn’t my blog. As long as you keep us up to date on the Kramer’s patterns, recipes, comings and goings, then I’m happy. Thanks for sharing.
English and spelling have always been “my thing”. I know it’s not everyone’s. Let’s face it. The brain, for the most part reads correctly so why complain about someones’s punctuation and spelling?
Good on you for making the decision to use an assistive program. :-)
Always love your blog!
I’d notice things here and there but it really didn’t bother me all that much. I’m not the quilt or grammar police. :D
I’m an English teacher, but I don’t correct grammar unless I’m paid to do it! :) Grammarly is a good program–I recommend it to my students.
Your errors never bothered me in the past. I always knew what you meant to say. You taught me somethings with this post though! One thing I’ve noticed with my iPad is that I type something and it’s spell-check changes it.
I often notice errors when I’m reading people’s blogs, but I don’t let them bother me, and I certainly wouldn’t correct them. Some people just aren’t great spellers and/or aren’t great with grammar. There’s no need to make anyone feel bad about it, and that’s not why I’m reading a person’s blog!
I’m glad you found grammarly, though; it’s nice to have something like that to help. :)
I once said something to you about your spelling, etc. You scolded me by saying that “I didn’t understand the way Iowans speak and if I did’t like it like it I could just delete your post” I am originally from the Midwest, so yes I know how you “speak”. It was the spelling that drove me crazy. Glad you found something to help. And unknown to you I have continued to follow you and your blog and all the magazine articles. Be safe & healthy
If you want misspelt words, and grammar that can be considered poor, and “jokes” that only make sense when you learn how words were pronounced back then Shakespeare is your man.
Those who are picky and complain to me almost invariably spell my name incorrectly which of course they get huffy about when I point that out to them.
I come here for news of your family, and to see your wonderful quilts. Just keep doing what you do.
I had a great English teacher who spent most of my Senior year getting grammar into our heads. I still make mistakes. It’s part of living. I’ll have to check Grammarly out, thanks
Yes, I was one who noticed the errors – that is what i did for years, but did it bother me, NO! I viewed the content and appreciated hearing about your quilts, your family, and your life.
When you were doing child care, and before you lost your beloved Kramer, you were one of the busiest people! AND you wrote a DAILY blog!
Many quilt bloggers only post a few times a week. I wrote your errors off to boom, done, move on. I’d rather have your daily blog with errors, than fewer times a week. Thanks for telling us about Grammerly.
You’re still busy and active, but in a different way. Farm wives have to be, and now it’s your habit/work ethic.
I’m with Kate. I homeschooled my kids and tutored at a co-op for years. I’m definitely a grammar person as words/ languages are my thing. Did I notice mistakes? Yup. That’s the way my brain works. Did I care? Nope. It never impacts my enjoyment or interest in what you have to say. I loved the earlier Shakespeare comment as well!
Whenever I read your blog, I always read it the way it was intended and moved on. After all, you are the one that takes the time & effort to write something for my enjoyment twice a day! Who am I to then turn around and chastise you for how you do it?!!!!! (I gotta be honest, when I put in chastise I had a z instead of an s). You just keep up your awesome job of entertaining us and making our confinement a much more enjoyable time. Hugs to you all,
Your blog is free and has given me so much wonderful information and joy so I don’t fret over things that are miss spelled. If it was bothering you, them by all means find a way to fix it or make it better. I enjoy the recipes, stories of life in Iowa and all the quilting bits. I will look to add the app, again great information.
I try not to be the grammar police, but occasionally I have to read a sentence twice for it to make sense to me. We all make mistakes, it’s part of being human. I was reading a blog about homeschooling recently, and the authors inability to differentiate between their, there and they’re, was annoying enough that I’ll likely never go back.
Thank you for the tutorial! I have always been more interested in the content of your blog than your grammar. People can be so petty.
It certainly never bothered me and anyway i would never be so rude as to make a comment about it. You are a busy person and I would think anyone could figure out what you were trying to say.
I actually think I have a little spell issues…. When my youngest was in 6th grade, part teacher night she told the parents to not worry about the spelling, use ‘word’ on the computer. She said there are those of us that can spell, and those that can’t ME ME ME!!!! I never knew that!!! I also never learned to type! LOL so I had no idea what ‘word’ was. I learned to type LOL
I LOVE Grammarly! I’ve been using it for a few years and it has helped me immensely. ( It just corrected my mispelled, immensely!)
I can spell, but when typing it is so easy to miss type! It has been a lifesaver!
I can’t recommend it enough.