Or… should we? A professional editor’s cautionary tale

Just because it passes spellcheck doesn’t mean it’s spelled correctly.

As a professional editor, this is one of the most common traps I see in writing – whether it’s a school resource, a technical document, or a manuscript that’s almost ready for publication.

Using the wrong word (and spellcheck doesn’t care)

Take a look at this paragraph:

Tee is a grate drink for settling thee nervous. Originally form China, its spread awl over the world and is know drunk buy millions of people everyday.

Believe it or not, this once passed Word’s spellcheck without a single error being detected.

Why? Because every word is spelled correctly.
“Grate” is a real word.
“So is “form”.
“So is “buy”.

They’re just not the words you actually want.

Spellcheck can’t tell whether you meant the right word – only whether the word exists in the dictionary.

This is exactly the kind of issue a human editor or proofreader catches instantly, and it’s why spellcheck alone is never enough.

One word or two? It matters more than you think

Another classic problem I see every day (which is different from seeing it everyday) is incorrect word spacing:

• “Hard working” is not the same as hardworking
  
• “Maybe” isn’t the same as may be
  
• A disease can be airborne, but not air borne
  
• “However, …” is not the same as “however …”
  
• You can’t “do your home work” – but you can do your homework
  

These errors often slip through automated checks and can undermine the clarity and professionalism of otherwise strong writing.

Why spellcheck isn’t enough and you need an accredited editor

Spellcheck only asks one question:

Is this word in the dictionary?

It doesn’t ask:

• Is this the correct word for the context?
  
• Is this standard usage in Australian or international English?
  
• Does this suit an educational, scientific or professional audience?
  

That’s where professional editing and proofreading come in – especially for technical, educational, or published material.

What should you do instead?

Use spellcheck, absolutely.
Just don’t trust it blindly.

If your document matters – whether it’s for publishing, education, or professional use – it needs a human eye. Preferably one trained to spot the things software can’t.

In spellcheck we trust… but only up to a point.

Spellcheck did its best. Now let a human take a look.

If you’d like a professional editor to catch what software can’t, get in touch.