Hello everyone,
This is NOT a prompt. It is Information. Comments are enabled and welcome.
A WordPress update took place yesterday, an update that removed the spellchecker.
I found the spellchecker quite useful to flag up my typos (I always have typos) I wasn’t too concerned about my actual spelling except for a couple of words that I always misspell despite being aware of the correct spelling!
I contacted WordPress and asked why it had been removed.
The conversation went like this
WordPress reply: Most web browsers these days have built in spell checkers, we found the inclusion of proofreading redundant.
ME: You are not the end user! I am not using a Web browser I am using the App! To not include a spellchecker in a publishing word processor is ludicrous, it’s a step backwards, hardly forward thinking!
WordPress reply: We have had users request that we bring back the proofreading functionality to the editor. I’ve gone ahead and added you to the list of users that have requested it. I can’t say for certain if it will return, but if there is enough interest in doing so, our developers will certainly consider it!
May I ask that each of us offers our support to those bloggers who have asked for the return of the proofreading facility.
Please Lodge a request to have it re-instated to WordPress Support then scroll down to GET HELP .
I would love to hear your opinion; Comments are enabled on this post.
A Second Issue: Immediately after yesterday’s updates, I uploaded a graphic to my site Nansfarm and after publication it was reported to me that the graphic appeared jumbled, see the screenshot below. I have replaced the graphic with a similar one that was already in the media file. The WP conversation on this one is ongoing!
Has anyone else had a similar problem following the latest update?
In the meantime Tony From the Keyboard of Tony gave me this link Open Live Writer for your PC. From here you can write your post, insert graphics and spell check, plus it will drop your post straight into WordPress as a draft. It’s FREE and is simple to use.
Many thanks, Sue.
Prompts published Wednesday and Saturday – 07:00 AM (UK) – 00:00 EDM (CA)
Site owners – GC, themainaisle.com – SueW, nansfarm.net
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SueW
Weekly Prompts 
Reblogged this on Nan's Farm-Inside Out and commented:
In an attempt to reach as many bloggers as possible I’m re-blogging this information post from GC and my site Weekly Prompts.
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I still seem to be having problems with notifications and posting comments. Sometimes I don’t receive notifications, other times I get multiple notifications.
Twice recently I’ve sent a comment only for it to appear twice.
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I’ve had double notifications too. Some comments end up in Spam and I’m not on top of that. Today an innocent pingback of a vase of flowers to Weekly Prompts including a perfectly normal comment was in the Spam folder! Thank you David
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We have just got so used to it being around.. 😉
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Yes and so convenient! Thank you Lisa 🙂
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I’ve been on WP for almost 10 years now and every update seems to make it harder on all us casual bloggers. I have experienced some of the issues mentioned above, but didn’t let it bother me, but now that it’s systemic . . .
Thanks for letting us know and I’ll get back to you if I have problems tonight. ( this morning seemed to publish fine)
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Thank you Ray, much appreciated.
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As I use a computer for 95% of my posts I don’t have any issues apart from some comments from regular commenters going into the spam folder at random times. When I am using my tablet I use a browser. Often WP asks to go to the App but I say no thanks as it doesn’t do what I want. I am glad you post issues Sue as it make me aware of potential pitfalls 🙂
PS Spellcheck saved me three times writing this with my early morning vagueity and fat fingers
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I use my computer during the day for writing my posts and as they’re mostly written in advance I’ll often pick up again on the iPad.
I think I have a bee in my bonnet about this one, not having a spell checker is not the end of the world but it is useful and I don’t think any of us should publish without having the content checked, mistakes happen. Like me you also taught IT I believe so you’ll know what I mean, years of teaching kids to proofread and spellcheck is a hard one to shake off.
Thank you Brian. 🙂
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Interesting. Since the latest update, something on my website which had stopped working weeks ago (and which I’d put on my ‘to do’ list to sort out), has started working again. Perfect! I’ve niver bhuthered much about slep chick, because I draft most of my pists in Wurd, and slepcheck it there. Bee sides, the Wordspress slepcheck is in American…
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I feel as though I should get out my red pen! 😂 I frequently use Word too but in this case it’s more the principle than anything else. Thank you for your comment it’s appreciated. 😀
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I think the question I would ask is how in the world is having spell check support messing up anything WordPress needs to do or causing them extra stress, money etc. Why should they care. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
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Exactly Anita, that was my first thought too. I tried out the block editor and noticed straight away that they hadn’t included a spellchecker. I prefer the classic view but maybe that’s another story. Thank you Anita. 🙂
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You go girl! 😈
They’re probably damned lucky that you live in Yorkshire not the good ol’ Us of A, You’d be up and at them where ever they are in the US there’d be no hiding from you. 👿
I’ve downloaded that Open Live Writer and if I get confused, or have any problems, then I shall write complaining to you, you will be my WP 😛 😛
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You are so right Brian. I’d wear my wrap around pinny, curlers in my hair, wrinkled stockings and be right there brandishing my rolling pin. 😂
You’re on, I will be your complaints dept and I’ll make a better job of it than WP! Tony knows more about it than I do but I’m a quick learner.
One thing I realised about Open Live Writer is choose the font and size before starting to write. I would always choose to Post as Draft so that you can check out what it looks like on your site before you publish.
Thank you Brian 🙂
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It looks pretty interesting and if I can pick and choose my fonts that’s an added bonus. I’m a fan of fonts and love to change them. Thats how I met up and became close to my other Sue / PiedType. Susan was once the Editor of a top Medical Journal/magazine in the US, her father was a gynaecologist, she’s also another cancer survivor, there are several of us who’ve met quite accidentally and hit it off.
But I’m going to go now and try out the OWL
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She sounds like a very interesting friend to have. Hope all goes well with the writer although I suspect like most things it will probably have its quirks. Thank you Brian 🙂
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Well I’ve just done one post using the writer and think I like the idea, I have it pinned to the task bar so I can just go in and type away. Will have to work out how to add pictures from the WP library or bung them in after I send the draft to WP draft, if you get what Im rambling on about 🙂
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I’m glad you like it. If your pictures are already in the WP file just add them from there, that’s what I did. I need to do another post before the day is out.
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Thanks for the mention Sue. Will be happy to help with OLW (if I can)
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Thank you Tony, I appreciate that. 🙂
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I may have mentioned before that I find the spellchecker tedious – especially as I can’t add my own perfectly good words they interfere with.
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And you certainly have some good words Derrick. My late husband was one of your regular readers!
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🙂
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I asked the same question, and received two rather curt replies.
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My first reply was also short and to the point…
“The spellchecking function has been deprecated. You can check for some tips on how to proofread your texts in the link below:”
Then I got opinionated! I’m not expecting miracles so I doubt they’ll reinstate it. It wasn’t the best spellchecker but at least it picked up the typos. Thank you Francesca 🙂
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Yes, my report and their response was similar. It was useful as a quick starting point to faster editing.
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Very true!
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This is the response I got:
A. Jay (Automattic)
Jun 22, 07:25 UTC
Hi there,
Thank you for contacting us.
The spellchecker was a part of the publication process. I don’t like Grammarly and it interferes with other apps — and Google’s isn’t very good. What was the problem with including it? Was it in someone’s way? Was it harming someone? I do not understand.
Spell checkers are a speciality product, and it’s not something we specialize in. The WordPress.com spell checker was developed years ago when there didn’t exist any alternatives yet. Since then things have changed and a lot of other companies have started specializing in this, which led to the decision on our end to step back from the field and focus instead on the things we do specialize in.
Modern browsers now provide built-in spell-checking tools, so we have removed this feature from our product to avoid maintaining unnecessary dependencies. I read that you do not like Grammarly or Google’s spell checker, however, following are our recommendations as an alternative option:
the spell-checking built into most browsers
a browser extension that offers additional grammar checks
a third-party service that offers additional grammar checks
You can read more about some of these options here – https://en.support.wordpress.com/proofreading/
Please let us know if you have any questions or if we can help with anything else.
Best,
A. Jay | Happiness Engineer
WordPress.com | Automattic Inc.
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Marilyn, I’ve just found your reply in the Spam folder! Can’t help wondering (given the content) how it ended up there! Thank you for sending it. They not going to restore it are they? Basic or not it picked up on the typos, such a shame. I’ve begun using Word to write my draft and copy and paste when I’ve finished. At least it has the advantage of synonyms when I’m trying to think of another word to replace the one I’ve already typed twice!
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This is the response I got from WordPress:
A. Jay (Automattic)
Jun 22, 07:25 UTC
Hi there,
Thank you for contacting us.
The spellchecker was a part of the publication process. I don’t like Grammarly and it interferes with other apps — and Google’s isn’t very good. What was the problem with including it? Was it in someone’s way? Was it harming someone? I do not understand.
Spell checkers are a specialty product, and it’s not something we specialize in. The WordPress.com spell checker was developed years ago when there didn’t exist any alternatives yet. Since then things have changed and a lot of other companies have started specializing in this, which led to the decision on our end to step back from the field and focus instead on the things we do specialize in.
Modern browsers now provide built-in spell-checking tools, so we have removed this feature from our product to avoid maintaining unnecessary dependencies. I read that you do not like Grammarly or Google’s spell checker, however, following are our recommendations as an alternative option:
the spell-checking built into most browsers
a browser extension that offers additional grammar checks
a third-party service that offers additional grammar checks
You can read more about some of these options here – https://en.support.wordpress.com/proofreading/
Please let us know if you have any questions or if we can help with anything else.
Best,
A. Jay | Happiness Engineer
WordPress.com | Automattic Inc.
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