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Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]>
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Fri, 17 Mar 1995 09:34:22 -0500
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Thanks for sharing this.  It was good for a chuckle.
About 2 years ago, when grammar-checkers were becoming common,
Mike Royko wrote a column describing his experience running the
Gettysburg Address through such software.  His results were
as enlightening and entertaining as yours.  I have often wished
that I had saved his column and the grammar-checker's evaluation--
too many long sentences, excessive use of prepositions, repetitive,
etc.--of Lincoln's style.
  "But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate-we cannot consecrate-
we cannot hallow-this ground."  It is easy to see, in this sentence
alone, massive potential for, ahem, improvement on Abe's grammar.
  Spell-checkers, yes; grammar-checkers...well, nice try.

Mike Dooris

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