I do find that with spell checker, unless you watch it like a hawk, it can do some wild and crazy changes. I have a friend who used to have a franchise. One of his inspectors wrote in his report the word "wood destroying organism". He spelled it wrong -- something like orgism. Anyway, when the report was sent out, as they found out days later, the word in the report was the other O-word that you see at the newsstand on the cover of about every Cosmopolitan magazine.
I forget what common word I was using but, a few years ago, after running spell-check, it had inserted the word cowpoke. Granted, you have control to reject the words it suggests, but sometimes in a long report it is easy to miss an inappropriate correction. That is a good reason to always check the spell-check corrections. Then, after that you spell-check again, and then re-read, them again. Okay...enough already.
I thought of this topic because I almost had one of those errors slip through on a report yesterday. The gas to the home was off, no way to test the temperature of the water heater, so I put this little note in the report for my clients, who are expecting a baby in the near future.
"When water heater is operating, recommend using a meat thermometer in a glass of freshly run hot water to set the temperature to 120 degrees. This is done with the dial at the front of the tank. Temperature higher than that increases the chances of a scalding burn, especially in households where children are present. "
I must have spelled "children" wrong because, as I read the report it said:
"When water heater is operating, recommend using a meat thermometer in a glass of freshly run hot water to set the temperature to 120 degrees. This is done with the dial at the front of the tank. Temperature higher than that increases the chances of a scalding burn, especially in households where chickens are present."
I caught that one, but when I see something like that, it always makes me wonder what small, but totally silly, language might have slipped through into reports over the years. With a multi-page report, it is bound to have happened, especially since my assistant, Nutsy, is often in charge of proof-reading.
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections
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Steve, I like to do it on porpoise just to bring some levity to the report. :)
I think it's very kind of you to take the chickens into consideration... not many inspectors do... and I'm sure the chickens appreciate it! ~A:)
Mr Charles,
I am afraid to ask, but you like to do what on a porpoise? You are over my head. Whoosh...right over my head here.
Nutsy
Alisha,
Setting the water in this manner avoids boiled chickens.
Thanks for reminding us we all are human...I have a major spelling problem and never rely on spell check...I actually think I may spell better than it does at times...
Happy Friday!!
Lori
Hey Butsy, it figures that you woodn't get it. :)
Steven~
It is real easy to replace on word with another, as long as it is spelled correctly! In a lengthy report, without a good proof reading- it is inevitable to have such mistakes. Here in Miami, especially "Little Haiti" - there are MANY households with chickens, roosters and all sorts of foul.
Mott Marvin Kornicki // Real Estate In Miami // Associate | Broker
Aventura-The Waterways // Bal Harbour // Sunny Isles Beach • Florida
We have little chickens running around here from time to time and spalding isn't a problem, they are too sport to reach the ink.
Steve, that is reelly funny stuf. Makes you wander what else makes into reports that shouldn't, hay? thanks for making me laugh so late in the day, and a Friday at that.
We seem to be in agreement that the spelling ritual can be tedious at best.
One word that is so often misused but correctly spelled on activerain is loose vs lose. Spellcheck will never catch it. We need to watch out that we don't loose Nutsy if he gets lose. Spell check says that Nutsy and activerain and spellcheck are spelled wrong.
Mrs Barbara,
It is possible that the boss screwed up the other words (rolling my little beady eyes) but Nutsy is for certain correct. I was given that name by my cherished grandfather, Buckwheat, who was a cowpoke. Sometimes I put on his outfit and pretend to be Lee Marvin in Cat Ballou.
Nutsy
Steve - in reading an inspection report out loud over the phone to a homeowner, I stumbled on that O word and actually referred to those wood destroying O's - he became very quiet, I became very quiet...and then I just continued along in conversation trying to pretend it didn't happen.
Carol,
He probably wondered what kind of gal he was dealing with.
Steven,
I recently sold a house that came with chickens... needed you for that inspection. LOL
Tammy
Thats so funny and so true.........'homemade' has a different meaning many a time......these days...used to be that homemade, meant it was better.........not it can be hmmm.......well lets say.........suspect? :-)
Ok I think that last comment of mine was for the OTHER post.............now this O is even funnier! Now how do you know about Cosmopolitan anyways? :-)
Liz,
Hard to have never been around Cosmo. I remember it was around even when I was a teen. I do not read it but see the headlines when I got through Fred Meyer, a store.
Nutsy, that is the best outfit yet. It gives you all the class you deserve. To tell the truth, you looked a little ridiculous in that Caesar outfit. But, being the true loving godparent that I am, I adored you anyway. (Wonder if I could get me a picture of little hearts being blown, like kisses....)
Relying on a tree climbing rodent to proof read your reports. No wonder you had chickens in the house.