Google is fooling with one of its best features: the excellent misspeller's aid "Did you mean."I've no idea how many people use this trick, but it's a good one: To see if you've correctly spelled a dodgy word, do a Google for that spelling. If the word is botched, up comes the red "Did you mean:" type, suggesting what is usually the correct spelling. No need to go hunting; Google provides a 3-second source.
This bit of dictionary duty really comes in handy when you can only offer a wild guess as to how a word is spelled. Say, type in onamatopeia and Google helpfully comes back with onomatopoeia. (Phonetic spellings often work.)
So now, Google is trial-ballooning a "Did you mean" with a couple of search engine results to make itself clear. Followed by the mess that your lowly misspelled word conjured up. Feel free to visit the web sites of your fellow language butchers.
Of course, all computers are dumb machines at heart. So this new approach should lead to even more search-page clutter, even when we're perfectly in the right.
Did Google mean to screw up a good thing?
(Hat tip to Danny Sullivan, who reviews several new Google search features.)
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