Sunday, May 11, 2008

Use Google or MS Word as Dictionary

Sometimes when you don’t even know how to spell a word, Google and MS word come into play. This is what I usually do. Although the best dictionary WordWeb has a suggestion capability but usually it doesn’t do a very good job.

Let’s take a look at spelling a word “Gentlemen” and I don’t know how to spell it and I spell it as “Gentalment”. In MS Word I can right click the word and it shows me the suggested correct spelling. To check the meaning of the world I can just press “Shift + F7” but usually this MS Word dictionary sucks. To check the meaning, I would suggest to use WordWeb.

Another method is using the Google Search Engine (my preferable choice) but only if you have the access to the internet. It comes out something like below “Did you mean: gentlement’s”



When you click on it, it comes out the Wikipedia’s definition. However, I do not really like Wikipedia’s definition too. The explanation is just too long for me. So I would still prefer to use the WordWeb to check the meaning.

So this is what I did to check a word spelling and it's meaning:

With Internet
  1. Google It
  2. WordWeb It

Witout Internet
  1. Winword it
  2. WordWeb it

p/s: Too bad the OpenOffice does not have suggested word capability. I hope one day they will support it.

Btw, I don't think this is something new. I believe a lot of people have been doing this especially using the Google as dictionary.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

WordWeb is Not Completely Free!!!

Just aware of this after reading the post from Shuva few days ago about. The best free dictionary - WordWeb is not completely free. This is their free licensing agreement:

You may use the program free of charge indefinitely only if

  • You take at most 4 flights (2 return flights) in any 12 month period
  • AND you do not own or regularly drive an SUV (sports utility vehicle).
If you do not qualify you must uninstall the program after the 30-day trial period or purchase WordWeb Pro.

The full license is here. This is the most funniest licensing term that I have ever heard. I just told my friend today, he is shock too! Anyway, thanks for Shuva for bringing the awareness to us. But, the question still will you uninstall it if you don't meet the term?

I'm quite sure most of the Asia people, they will not follow the term. I"m not sure about the Western (e.g. US, Europe) culture. Looks like they really follow? I don't know.


Didn't find what you want? Use Google Search Engine below: