The True History of the Spellchecker Poem

The True History of the Spellchecker Poem Susan Pierotti, Creative Text Solutions In the heady days of the early 1990s when the new communication device called “email” was gaining popularity, there were discussions regarding the proficiency of typing skills. Most email users weren’t competent typists. In one camp of software thought was the idea of a spelling checker included in the software, while the opposing camp declared that if you couldn’t spell, you shouldn’t use email. So in 1991, Mark Eckman decided that to get people “to return to thinking rather than arguing”, he would write something to prove the point that spellcheckers were a good idea. After posting it, the discussion “came to a grinding halt” but shortly afterwards an expanded version appeared in his inbox. Jerrold H. Zar, the Professor Emeritus of Biology and retired dean of the graduate school at Northern Illinois University added many more verses and has since been credited with its authorship. Here is the poem in full, with its original title. Candidate for the Pullet Surprise I have a spelling checker It came with my PC. It plane lee marks four my revue Miss steaks aye can knot sea. Eye ran this poem threw it, Your sure reel glad two no. Its vary polished inn it's weigh. My checker tolled me sew. A checker is a bless sing, It freeze yew lodes of thyme. It helps me right awl stiles two reed, And aides me when aye rime. Each frays come posed up on my screen Eye trussed too bee a joule. The checker pours o'er every word To cheque sum spelling rule. Bee fore a veiling checkers Hour spelling mite decline, And if we're lacks oar have a laps, We wood bee maid too wine. Butt now bee cause my spelling Is checked with such grate flare, Their are know faults with in my cite, Of nun eye am a wear. Now spelling does knot phase me, It does knot bring a tier. My pay purrs awl due glad den With wrapped words fare as hear. To rite with care is quite a feet Of witch won should bee proud, And wee mussed dew the best wee can, Sew flaws are knot aloud. Sow ewe can sea why aye dew prays Such soft wear four pea seas, And why eye brake in two averse Buy righting want too pleas.