Automatically apply Spellcheck as you type

[CoreSec-xyz]

When I write quickly, I make a lot of small typos and the spellchecker catches them.

I think it would be a nice option to automatically apply the spell checker's first hint as I type. In most cases, this is the right choice.

[vkbo]

This wouldn't be difficult to implement, but I think auto-applying the first suggested correction would be wrong often enough that it would be annoying. Mobile phones haven't perfected this feature yet, and they have a better interface for it than can be achieved here. It is also not something most writing software does. I think a better option is to just leave the misspelled words and fix them later (although I'm not capable of doing that myself).

If the reaching for the mouse to correct spelling is distracting, you can also open the spell check menu by pressing Ctrl . on the misspelled word and selecting the correct one with the arrow keys and enter.

[xahodo]

This is why Hemmingway mode is such a good idea. No correcting spelling mistakes while you're being creative, even if you want to. Correcting the spelling mistakes breaks the creative flow, because that's a logic activity (other part of the brain).

[vkbo]

Here's a proposal: How about I add a feature that corrects the last word before the cursor via a keyboard shortcut? It needs to be something very simple that you can press very quickly without breaking the flow. I was thinking something like a double-tap on the Ctrl key or something.

[CoreSec-xyz]

I think the idea of a simple shortcut is great. Would it be difficult to implement both? Then everyone can find the right solution for their workflow.

For me, I type part of a text and then read it back to correct typos and edit parts. I don't know if I can interrupt my typing with a shortcut, but I'd give it a try.

[xahodo]

I would rather not have such a feature. Editing can always be done later, after I've finished writing. Besides, in my experience (Android, Gboard) automatic spelling correction usually messes up.

[vkbo]

Auto-correction of spelling would need a much smarter spell checker than the one currently used. The current spell checker just proposes a correction based on the most similar word to the one typed, but knows nothing of the context like for instance the Android feature does. Those too are far too often wrong.

So for the time being, I don't think this is a good idea. Adding a shortcut to press is the least intrusive because you can just choose to not use it.

There's also the point of not focusing on typos when writing (you could also just turn off spell checking while drafting). While I tend to agree with this principle and recommendation, novelWriter shouldn't decide for you how you should work any more than absolutely necessary. However, I'm reluctant to add features that I think won't help very much either. Even if they are optional.