So I'm a writer and editor for a living. In this role, I am sometimes expected to offer the benefits of my expertise to those who don't get paid for spotting misplaced commas. Sometimes, this is a joyful experience – a collaboration which results in something better than either party could have come up with alone. More often than not though, it's miserable. Here's why: everyone thinks they can write. "Hey," they think, "I've been writing since I was five. I know what I'm doing! And, sure, sometimes I make mistakes with spelling and grammar, but that's what Word's spelling and grammar check is for! I certainly don't need some namby-pamby writer and editor telling me what to do."
Here's the truth though: they do need help. They really do. After all, I have been doing basic sums since the age of five but it doesn't mean I'm a mathematician. And having access to a calculator doesn't change that fact – I can't interpret the results it gives me. Same applies to spell checkers. Sure, they'll pick up some mistakes. But you can't rely on them for everything. Here's a case in point:
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