Text replacement
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Text replacement, Replace as you type or AutoCorrect is a software function commonly found in word processors such as Microsoft Word. Its principal purpose is to correct common spelling or typing errors, saving time for the user. It is also used to automatically format text or insert special characters by recognising particular character usage, saving the user from having to use more tedious functions.
| Input | Output |
|---|---|
| yuor | your |
| (r) | ® |
| aboutit | about it |
| where;s | where's |
| *bold* | bold |
| _italic_ | italic |
Additional options include recognising words with two initial capital letters (e.g. "EXample") and correcting them, capitalising the first letters of sentences, and correcting accidental use of caps lock (e.g. eXAMPLE).
The replacement list for text replacement can also be modified by the user, allowing the user to use shortcuts. If, for example, the user is writing an essay on the industrial revolution, a replacement key can be set up to replace the 'word' "ir" with "industrial revolution", saving the user time whenever he wants to type it.
Some stand-alone programs allow global text replacement across the operating system, and apply to text typed into any other application.
[edit] Disadvantages
In certain situations, automatic corrections can cause problems. This is particularly so in technical and scientific writing. For example, the biochemical cyclic adenosine monophosphate is commonly referred to as "cyclic AMP", which in turn is abbreviated to "cAMP". A text replacement function may regard this capitalization to be erroneous, and so change it to "Camp", which in the context of biochemistry is incorrect.
[edit] Practical jokes
Misuse of text replacement software is a staple practical joke in many schools and offices. Typically, the prankster will set the victim's word processing software to replace an extremely common word with a humorous absurdity, or an incorrectly spelt version of the original word.
