PC Word - and I don't mean "computer"

[woolymonkey]

I recently used the word housewife in a translation. (The German was Hausfrau; it seemed the obvious thing to do.) 

I was surprised to find the Word grammar checker underlined it and suggested homemaker instead.  I see where it's coming from, but still - grammar checker?

I started wondering what other terms Word would caution me against?

It seems the following words are dangerous: lady (suggestions: woman, person), chairman (chair, chairperson), and actress (actor).

On the other hand, authoress, seamstress, fireman, and (sorry about this, but I needed to know) nigger - are waved through with a big paperclippy grin.  If I thought there was a mind behind this, I'd be very, very disturbed.

Language = UK English, BTW.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Microsoft are in your machine remodeling your language... I must admit that I tend to switch the grammar checker off, because it can't cope with academic punctuation.

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

I find it a useful proofreader for translations (switching off the passive verb and long sentence alerts for medical papers, obviously). But I had no idea this "feature" existed, let alone what its name is, so I wouldn't know how to switch it off.

Wonder if you can set preferences: ignore mild sexisim; flag all racism; suggest homophobic alternatives...

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

That's amazing.

And a little disturbing. 0.o

PC, indeed - though apparently not across the board.

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

It's just weird, isn't it? I mean, who decided it would be a good idea to warn about potential problem words, and then put so little thought into deciding which words?

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

I've always considered the Spool Chucker to be a little peculiar on occasion, but that's bordering on sinister to me!

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

There's something sinister about discovering that some hacker is screening your word choice - let alone the details of the good and bad word lists.