Quote Originally Posted by russellsimpson View Post
The rules are for fools.
There is some truth to those words. Even though I edit part-time and have often critiqued others for their misappropriations, there is something snobbish and condescending about expecting others to speak the Queen's English. After all, the intent of communication is to understand one another, not to copy what others consider "correct" form. As John Maynard Keynes said, "Words ought to be a little wild, for they are the assaults of thoughts on the unthinking".

Btw, editors commonly use spell checkers. There are many free ones on-line. They are an indispensable tool to the writing process, allowing a writer to get ideas down on paper/screen, which is often the most difficult part, without filling their head with mundane matters such as spelling and punctuation. I tell my students and clients not to worry about spelling until all the writing is finished. But don't rely on grammar checkers. The rules around grammar are far too grey and ever changing to rely on them with any degree of certainty.