Comments on: Google’s spelling problems are worse than we thought

By: levhita

levhita — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:49:09 +0000

I might add that if you search using double quotes likes "search term" Google search exactly what you typped.

In a related trick you can put a minus sign in front of a search term to remove search results that contained that word.

ex: apple -iphone

By: Adrian Bold

Adrian Bold — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:17:42 +0000

Great stuff Malcolm.

We've posted a couple of articles recently concerning spelling and I did one myself today on how Google are rolling out changes to synonym displays in the SERPS yet still showing US based sites even with 'UK only' selected.

http://www.impactmedialtd.co.uk/blog/search-engine-optimisation-seo/google-change-synonyms-display-in-search-results/

One day they'll get it right, Britain will, once again, have a manufacturing sector and talk of a second Empire will be all the rage...

By: Angie Nikoleychuk (Haggstrom)

Angie Nikoleychuk (Haggstrom) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:46:08 +0000

Hi Malcolm,

I've looked at what you've discovered here as well as on your 'coloring' VS 'colouring' post. And, while I admit the suggestions make you go 'huh?' at first, I think there is some logic behind the suggestions. You can find my response here: http://seo.site-reference.com/optimising-optimization-google-spells-seos-crazy/

By: Kieron Hughes

Kieron Hughes — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:16:44 +0000

Haha, I'd love the option of 'I can spell'. It just seems to be another case of 'Google knows best', and is trying maybe too hard to deliver the 'best' results. They can't just presume everything though, so surely there would actually have to be an option in the search preferences so you didn't get all this crap. Probably won't happen like.

By: Showing Results For Search Engine Optimization? But I Searched For Search Engine Optimisation | Hobo

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:10:22 +0000

[...] Update 7 – Seems this has been resolved, but there’s more google misspelling fun at Malcolm Coles blog… [...]

By: Alan Bleiweiss

Alan Bleiweiss — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:44:53 +0000

Malcom,

The butchery of interpreting intent is pathetic. Is $600 (U.S.) per share not enough of a motive to ensure quality? How could this have come about, even if financially motivated in the first place? Dear vs. Deer? Something has gone seriously wrong in that room where the only light comes from the glow of monitors, and the banana skins fly furiously as the code-monkeys hammer away unintelligibly at the keyboard.

By: Optimise vs Optimize Part Deux | Annabel Hodges

Optimise vs Optimize Part Deux | Annabel Hodges — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:42:48 +0000

[...] Malcolm Coles has done some more research into Google and its desire to change the way we spell and has made some [...]

By: Malcolm Coles

Malcolm Coles — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:45:24 +0000

Previous commenters: I've added some search data from google insight for each pair of search terms. Make of it what you will!

By: Malcolm Coles

Malcolm Coles — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:00:14 +0000

Drayton: LOL, I checked bellwether. Results in google seem OK, no?

By: Drayton Bird

Drayton Bird — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:57:06 +0000

The human mind (mine anyhow)works in a strange way. When I read this I instantly started thinking of that amiable beast the bell-wether.

Having said which, since the overwhelming majority of the public on both sides of the Atlantic is illiterate, I guess Google is indeed giving the customers what they need and will appreciate.

But far more hilarious is the ABC function on Word that alleges to correct my grammar. This has the rare distinction of being wrong not just occasionally but almost invariably.