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Spelling Corrections (Suggestions)

If you are unsure of the spelling of one or more of the terms in you search, don't worry. Try gessing. Google has 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 in the original query 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, as is the case with [ activ listingg ], Google may offer an alternative spelling, search tips, and a link to Google Answers. The last is a service that provides assistance from expert online researchers for a fee.

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

People searching for Britney Spears have clearly found the spelling checker useful, as it has corrected spellings of her first name ranging from "Brittany" to "Prietny." Visit www.google.com/jobs/britney.html to see hundreds of other ways people have misspelled her name.

Be aware that the spelling checker isn't able to distinguish between a variant spelling and a word or name that is spelled similarly. So, before clicking on what Google suggests, check that it's what you intended.For example, when looking up the genealogy of the family surname Ingland, Google asks: Did you mean: England, even though the name is spelled correctly.

The first problem gives you practice in using Google's spelling-correction system. For hints and answers to selected problems, see the Solutions page in the Appendix.

1. On the Rush Limbaugh program you heard him mention a researcher at Princeton University whose name sounded like Sugrew and you want to send him email. What is his email address?
2. From Google's home page, www.google.com, search for "french military victories" and then click on the I'm Feeling Lucky button to see Albino Blacksheep's parody of a Google spelling correction result. (You might also want to try entering "miserable failure" and clicking on the I'm Feeling Lucky button.)