Editor’s Note: “Quick Look” is a new software review column for the QL. The concept and graphics were designed by TIME DESIGNS regular, Paul Bingham. The “scorecard” rating system will be used, and may be adopted for the T/S 2068 and 1000 reviews as well.
The very reason this dedicated 208 owner bought a QL was because there was a spelling checker program available for it–something I had been waiting in vain to see for the 2068. Spelling has always been a real problem, solved up until now with two spelling texts, four dictionaries, or using the PC and hard disk at work, with an 80,000 word proof reader program. Now it would not be fair to compare QSPELL with a program for hard disk, so I won’t. After all, the QSPELL dictionary fits withing 70K.
QSPELL loads its thirteen sections (some of which are in BASIC) in just under on and a half minutes. The program is very professional, making good use of color and windows. All the menus are icon-driven, point-and-press easy. A mouse would work great! The instruction booklet appears to have been done on someone’s typewriter. This is perfectly acceptable of course, except that the instructions are a little ambiguous in places including (believe it or not[!]) at least on spelling mistake. The help screens are almost verbatim what is written in the booklet.
The program itself has many procedures. One makes a QSPELL version of Quill with which is is compatible. Another allows access to the 25,000 word dictionary to add to it, delete from it, even erase it entirely and start over. For puzzle buffs, QSPELL allows a word to be entered with question marks in place of one or many letters. QSPELL then quickly lists the word or words that fit the bill. Its almost like cheating for crosswords, but it can effectively be used to teach proper spelling. By entering a prefix followed by “*” the program almost instantaneously produces a list of all the words beginning as such, QSPELL will also list all words possible from another word’s letters or solve anagrams.
But the real reason to buy a spelling checker is to check spelling. After taking the limits of 70K into account, I assumed they had put mostly small words in the list to reach 25,000. So I dug out my spelling texts and went to work. One book has a list of over 500 of the most commonly misspelled words from studying some 11,000 business memos. I ran this list through and 81% were in QSPELL. I then ran through a list of “demons” (hard-to-spell words many of which no one uses) like crevasse, khaki, and larynx. Suprisingly 42% of these were there, too. With QSPELL’s Auto-Learn feature, such a list can be easily added to the dictionary and saved.
Proofreading takes about 20 seconds per full page and will highlight on the scree or on a printout (in BOLD type) words QSPELL does not recognize. Puzzle mode can then be accessed to help find the correct spelling or you can resort to your old Webster’s on the shelf.
Overall, QSPELL is a marvel. It is sophisticated, professional, and very fast. Like Quill, QSPELL would benefit from some memory expansion. QSPELL at under $30 is a must. Be sure to get the version for the U.S.–the British version DOES NOT work with our Quill (or QLWP as it is called).
WORDS NOT FOUND IN QSPELL AS TESTED:
COMMON ERRORS: alluded annulled alumni affidavit aggravate aluminum analyze appropriation assessable bituminous bookkeeping borrower brokerage canceled capitalization cartage collateral commodity community concession considerable consignee contemplating conveyance cooperate corroborate defray disbursements discernible distributor embarrass endeavor foreclosure fundamental hoarse impracticable inasmuch insolvency itemized manila memorandum mercantile middleman misrepresent misstate misspelled moistener mucilage notary notwithstanding obstacle ordinance overdraw pavilion peculiarities pecuniary permissible perpendicular perusal photostat plaintiff plausible precedence prominence promissory prospectus readjustment rebate reconstruction regardless reimburse relations remedied remittance representative requisition respectfully respectively ridiculous salutation solvent speculate sublet subsidize suggestion superfluous susceptible syndicate systematize tangible tariff tickler transient treasurer triplicate typographical
DEMONS: aberration aqueous arctic bacillus bassinet bestial bouillon calyx cancellation canvass caul cellar chancre clayey cole slaw colicky complaisance contractible cornucopia corollary corroborate councilor counsellor covey distensble dyspeptic ebullient ecstasy ephemeral eskimos excel expansible fluorescent fulsome garlicky genealogy harakiri hemorrhage hoeing inoculate isthmus kilos labeled mnemonics picnicking perfectible phlegm rarefy receivable referrer sacrilegious sarsaparilla sesede shellacked supersede treadle vendible wriest
SCORES
3 Blank Cartridges Required 0 Blank Cartridges Included NO Runs on U.S. T.V. mode FINAL SCORE: 9.5