Why does Apple bury spell checking?
It's buried in the Edit menu in all the apps I've used. I didn't think much of it since I just hit Apple-Shift-; to activate spell check, but yesterday a Windows user was confused about whether OS X had spell check, and explaining how to use it was a bit of a chore. She said in Windows, most apps have an icon in the toolbar for spell check, and that sounded like a damn good idea.
So why no spell check buttons in the toolbars of OS X apps? Apps like Mail and Safari would really benefit from having a continuously visible spell check button that lets switchers know the capability is there. Apple has such a good thing going with system-wide spell check, and they should exploit it to their advantage.
So why does the company known for brilliant GUI design bury the spell check command in the second level hierarchy of the Edit menu, and give it an arcane keystroke shortcut?
So why no spell check buttons in the toolbars of OS X apps? Apps like Mail and Safari would really benefit from having a continuously visible spell check button that lets switchers know the capability is there. Apple has such a good thing going with system-wide spell check, and they should exploit it to their advantage.
So why does the company known for brilliant GUI design bury the spell check command in the second level hierarchy of the Edit menu, and give it an arcane keystroke shortcut?
Comments
One of the things that strikes me about OS X is that toolbar buttons are usually to do with manipulating stuff within a document, with all the superfluous buttons stripped away. Sundry things like Open, New, Save, Print, and so on are in the menus rather than in your face all the time. Spelling is the same - it's only in your face when it spots a spelling mistake (assuming you have "Check Spelling as You Type" switched on... I can see it's a bit out of the way if you don't).
Neil.
a.k.a. Arnel
Originally posted by belisama
Do we really need to explain why Windows users need a spell check button right in their face??
Yes, please.
My point? I didn't worry ANY more than that. Hell I didn't realise there was even a spell check button there! "Check spelling as you type" is on by default and I just thought that's how OS X worked. Hell that's how it should work, like someone always watching you over your shoulder pointing out misspelled words as you go, instead of them coming in at the end and saying "that's wrong. So's that. And that. This is also wrong. Oh, don't forget that one."
Turn on "check spelling as you type" and forget about EVER having to press a spell check button. Maybe with the time you save, you could take pity on Windows users.
Originally posted by ipodandimac
edit>spelling isn't exactly what i would call "buried."
Not for AI users, but for most computer users Apple's spell check might as well be a hidden file in the root directory.
And yes, I'm fully aware of the check spelling while you type feature, but that's not as useful as an actual spell check that suggests corrections for each misspelled word. Many users don't type with spell checking on, because we find it annoying.
Yeah Arnel, I know what you mean about Windows having too many things crammed into the toolbar. But many people, spell check is one of the most frequently used features of any application that deals with text input. It seems like this has as much of a right to be in my Safari toolbar as something like "Home" or "Autofill".
It's not a big deal, really, I was just thinking of it as a minor inconvenience. Most people I know use spell check on a regular basis, regardless of their spelling ability, so the spell check function seems like a candidate for toolbar status in any text-input application.
Originally posted by Imergingenious
I'm sorry, but there is no need with the check spelling as you type feature. When you misspell a word, you automatically know it, and can right click the word for suggestions or keep typing and come back later.
That would be ctrl-click for mac users
Originally posted by belisama
That would be ctrl-click for mac users
Not if they have a real mouse.
Originally posted by belisama
That would be ctrl-click for mac users
Originally posted by Imergingenious
When you misspell a word, you automatically know it...
you're kidding, right? people make mistakes all the time while typing WITHOUT KNOWING IT. that's why there are professional wirters and set-aside proofing stages in every respectable section of publishing on earth.
Originally posted by rok
you're kidding, right? people make mistakes all the time while typing WITHOUT KNOWING IT. that's why there are professional wirters and set-aside proofing stages in every respectable section of publishing on earth.
Reread the post. Spell checking as you type highlights and corrects the typo.
Also, control/right+clicking in the text field always has at the bottom of the contextual menu:
Spelling
Font
Speech
Writing Direction
I'd say spellchecking is well covered. It's services that are buried.
Panther and Jaguar users can start typing a word, then hit Option-Escape and have the dictionary pop up a list of likely candidate words based on the letters typed so far.
Not perfect, but sometimes a time/typo saver.
how is the windows way better, again?
Oh yea, thats right, IT ISN'T.
Originally posted by Code Master
I'd say spellchecking is well covered. It's services that are buried.
I'd agree that Services are more buried than Spelling. I'm running a third party app that puts services in a contextual menu, but without it I almost never use services, since it's buried in a menu at the same level as spell checking is buried.