

Autocorrect. I type comptuer incorrectly. That�s embarrassing, because I spend a great deal of time teaching about the computer and writing about the computer. However, that�s where my fingers land. There�s nothing I can do about it except slow up my typing speed � and I don't want to do that either. To throw a commonly misspelled word into the AutoCorrect bin, right-click on the word and choose AutoCorrect from the pop-up menu. Choose the properly spelled word from the sub-menu that appears. Any word you add to AutoCorrect's repertoire is automatically fixed right after you type it.
If possible, try to add only lowercase words with AutoCorrect. AutoCorrect will fix all variations of that word, upper/and lowercase, from "srouce" to "source." However, if you add "Source" (big S), then AutoCorrect will not correct "srcoue" (little s). Always add words in lowercase. Using AutoCorrect to replace short codes with QXSomething so that it will be an entire phrase.
If AutoCorrect makes a change you don't like, you can undo it. Usually pressing the Ctrl+Z shortcut or the Undo command right after you see the automatically corrected text does the trick. Sometimes pressing the Backspace key also works.
AutoCorrect already has some corrections in its tummy. That means that it will automatically make the following changes, unless you disable or delete these options.
(C) automatically turns into a copyright symbol. You can see one in the italicized material at the end of this article.
--> becomes a right arrow.
:-) becomes a smiley;
:-| (the vertical bar is on the reverse-slash key which could be just about anyplace on your keyboard) turns into a nondescript face,
while :-( turns into a sad face.
Click on the equal sign three times and hit enter and see what happens. Do it with the underline, the dash, the asterisk. They turn into various kinds of lines.
AutoCorrect also turns three or four periods into a different kind of ellipsis (that�s the name for three dots) which looks much better in print. Autotext is something like AutoCorrect, but the timing is different. AutoCorrect corrects material on the fly, while Autotext completes words.
The date � annoying.
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