Originally published August 28, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified August 28, 2008 at 1:23 AM
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print view
How Microsoft's spell-check gatekeepers select words to add
Microsoft's Natural Language Group is in an ongoing race to keep up with the evolution of the dozens of languages for which they produce...
Microsoft's Natural Language Group is in an ongoing race to keep up with the evolution of the dozens of languages for which they produce spell-checkers and other writing tools.
Here's how the group selects words to add:
The first step is finding possible candidates for inclusion in the spell-checker lexicon. When Mike Calcagno started at Microsoft in 1998, that was done ad hoc, with candidate words or changes sent to someone high enough on the corporate ladder to get attention.
"The number of issues that we would see at that time was so small that we could keep track of it on a single Excel spreadsheet," he said.
Now, the company uses software to monitor actual language usage across its vast properties.
"When you add a word to your custom dictionary, either in Word itself or in Hotmail, that word comes to us," Calcagno said. When a word is added hundreds of times, it becomes part of the candidate list. Words still come in on an ad hoc basis, too.
The lists are filtered with software to eliminate words the team has already considered.
Then the words are sorted by frequency and sent to outside editors who evaluate each one against a set of guidelines Microsoft has created, such as whether a new word has appeared in a major dictionary.
Rarely, editors can't decide whether a word should be added and it's sent back to the Natural Language Group for debate. The team of about 50 software engineers, computational linguists, machine learning experts and other specialists hail from around the world.
With occasional exceptions, the words to be added — often tens of thousands of new ones — are shipped out to users in the next release of Office, used by hundreds of millions of people around the world.
"Everybody's speller gets updated and few people notice," he said.
— Benjamin J. Romano
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
More Business & Technology headlines...
E-mail article
Print view Share:
Digg
Newsvine
![]()
Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
Sunday Buzz: Expedia, Intelius, Classmates slapped by Senate report
Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
Your Funds: Money for nothing: Some investors pay for advice they never get

LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham talks about the upcoming MLS Cup final during after a team practice.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
- Man shot in chest on E. Union Street in Capitol Hill
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Mariners Blog | A Mariners-Tigers swap makes a whole lot of sense for both teams
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
- Italian prosecutors request life sentence for UW student
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Genetics anti-bias law takes effect
- Mariners to try Dustin Ackley at second base
- Mariners Blog | Dustin Ackley to move to second base; Mariners add six to 40-man roster
- Senate vote clears hurdle
199 - First key vote today on Senate health bill
167 - Mariners add six to 40-man roster
142 - Man shot in Capitol Hill
91 - Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
88 - Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
77 - Saturday links
54 - Prosecutor requests life in prison for Amanda Knox
50 - Historic health care bill nears key Senate vote
37 - Apple Cup next year apparently moving to Dec. 4
35
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Nonprofits get creative using Twitter and Facebook to make donation easier
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
- Great places to cross-country ski for free (or almost) in the Methow
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Recipes: Sesame Pork Roast, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce and more
- UW provost tapped for Nike's board
- 175 foster kids in Washington get 'forever families'
- BofA moves to take control of Mastro building in Fremont
- Food-bank donations pour in after theft in Rainier Valley





