Why spell-check programs suck

[elfs]

A real headline from Reuters this morning: Danube reaches peak in Balkans, dykes in danger. "Authorities warned there was still danger waterlogged dykes could collapse and wreak havoc across southeastern Europe." "It could cause dykes to leak or even break and our teams on the ground have to stay vigilant."

Oh, my, the images, the images!

Yes, I know, "dyke" is an acceptable, older spelling of "dike", but language convention seems to have reserved one spelling for levees and the other for lesbians. Don't get them confused.

Comments

[mothball-07.livejournal.com]

European spelling often includes Y where we use I.

My manual for Sal is full of Tyre references. I wanted BYKE for her plate, but it was denied. *sigh*

[jenkitty.livejournal.com]

waterlogged dykes could collapse

Time to airlift some Pamprin into the Balkans, methinks.

[duskwuff.livejournal.com]

Tomorrow's news: "Construction teams are hard at work plugging some holes that have appeared in the dykes."

[mundens.livejournal.com]

Yeah, as shastaw says, coming from a European heritage and living a UK Commonwealth country, I've never seen dyke (as in something to keep water out of land that is below sea level) spelled "dike" before. It's a Dutch word borrowed into the English language, like the reasonably common name "Dykstra".

However I also haven't seen bike written as byke, because it comes from "bi - cycle" so there's no original 'y' spelling.

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

I know, we can't say "dyke", we can't even say "lesbian", it's "women in comfortable shoes!"

[mothball-07.livejournal.com]

Lol.. I left out some context in my draconian editing to try to stick to the topic...

I'm a mostly-queer bisexual grrl, and tried on the term "byke" to describe myself, except it only works in writing, so I never use it. But, I wanted to get the plate for my motorcycle. It was denied as too similar to the "derogatory" dyke.

It came to mind because I'd been considering trying to fight the denial by using my manual as a reference and implying it was a European spelling, rather than the "close to derogatory term" they considered it. It would have required a lawyer and wasn't worth the fuss though. So, I started to write all that, then clipped it down as irrelevant. Almost. Oops. :)

Now I just go by PB&J Switch. (Poly, bi and Jewish.) ;)

[featheredfrog.livejournal.com]

Which spelling is used for the short form of "Diagonal Cutter".

"HEY LOOIE! Toss me the d[iy]kes!!!"

[mundens.livejournal.com]

It's probably a good idea that you don't call yourself a "byke".

Over here the term "bike" when applied to a person is largely derogatory and used to describe someone who is, how shall I say.. "easy to ride" !

Unless of course you're trying to reclaim the word, like some have reclaimed the word "slut"

I've discovered recently I'm of a similar persuasion to yourself, except that I'm not actually Jewish, though I have "Jewish blood". :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_candide_/]

In northern NJ on Rt17, there's a hardware store named "Dykes Lumber".

Everytime epinoid and I are driving to see our friends in northern NJ, I can't help but think, "Lesbians from around the NY metro area must come here just so they can say that they picked up their power tools at Dyke's Lumber." ;)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_candide_/]

Can't … Stop … Laughing!

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

LOL...

[mothball-07.livejournal.com]

Good to know! I've always preferred the term dyke, but being bisexual, very few of my brethren agree. ;) I was looking for something that respected both perspectives, but 'byke' really never worked since it had to be explained.

These days I don't seem to need to explain myself very often, and PB&J switch is pretty comprehensive. ;)

[ladyerin.livejournal.com]

Thought about it the entire time....just never thought to make the comment

[(Anonymous)]

As far as I know only the US uses the spelling "dike", I know us Brits still use "Dyke" and we have no concept of the lesbian "dyke" over here. Don't know about Australia and New Zealand though.