TextExpander: TidBITS AutoCorrect Dictionary
We just added a new snippet file for TextExpander users to download: an autocorrect snippet file courtesy of the nice folks at TidBITs. The TidBITS AutoCorrect Dictionary contains over 2400 misspellings that TextExpander can automatically correct.
Adam Engst, TidBITS publisher, and Micah Alpern put this massive resource together for a MacHack conference years ago. They originally created it for Eudora Mail users, but put it into the public domain so others could use it. Taking our cue from Ergonis Software, which released a version for use with Typinator, we decided to make a TextExpander-friendly version available as well.
This dwarfs our current autocorrection offering, which I compiled last year. That file contains about 100 of the most common misspellings. The TidBITS file is exhaustive – it has 15 variants of misspelling just the word “necessary.”
I’m sure there will be a lot of users who want to avail themselves of this industrial strength correcting, but I’m going to stick to using the original file myself. I just don’t want to load thousands of snippets into TextExpander.
Of course, as the erstwhile spelling champion of Ojus Elementary School, maybe I don’t need quite so many correction snippets. 
August 31st, 2007 at 2:57 am
Your autocorrection offerings are great. I found it difficult, however, to find my own snippets from time to time. A feature enabling users to group entries would be great!
August 31st, 2007 at 9:45 am
Andreas: An excellent idea, and one that was mentioned by many folks who responded to our TextExpander Survey. As you know, we pride ourselves on being responsive to our customers, so don’t be surprised to see something like that in the soon-to-be-released TextExpander 2.
September 19th, 2007 at 12:25 am
A couple of weird issues with this TidBITS file.
There are quite a few entries that just aren’t well conceived. For instance, sometimes a person might accidentally type “which” as “whic” by forgetting to type the h. But by making “whic” a shortcut for “which” it basically means that everytime you type which the AutoCorrect screws it up and you end up typing “whichh.” Unfortunately since triggers can’t include white space, there’s no real way to fix mistakes like this so so far I’ve just had to delete a few entries.
There’s also a few things that aren’t mistakes per se but just aren’t necessaryily [okay, see, that's another one, I can't type necessarily because it shortcuts necessary] helpful. Like if someone accidentally types “ahd” they probably meant to type “had” not “and”
September 19th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Simon: Thanks for the heads up. The original TidBITS file contained many of these “unfinished” words like “whic” and “necessar”. While I endeavored to excise them all, obviously I overlooked these two. I’ve removed them now and posted the new file at http://www.smileonmymac.com/textexpander/snippets.html.
As for “ahd”, it really depends on the user. The compilers of the TidBITS corrections apparently typed “ahd” when they meant to type “and”, but another user might have meant to type “had”. Ultimately, a compilation of typos is going to have some subjective elements.
If you are feeling adventurous, you can edit the snippet file to your liking. I use BareBones great free text editor, TextWrangler. Search for “ahd ” and you’ll see “and ” a few lines below it. Change the “and” to “had”, save the document and you’re set.
October 26th, 2007 at 7:28 am
I am using version 2 of TextExpander. I am unable to link to the file pursuant to the instructions since step 3) Check “Use Additional Snippets” does not appear in my preferences…
October 26th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Peter: The instructions for installing the TidBITs AutoCorrect Dictionary have been updated for TextExpander 2.:
1) Click the TextExpander menubar icon and open “TextExpander Preferences…”
2) Click on the “Snippets” tab.
3) Beneath the list of snippets on the left, click on the plus (+) button.
4) From the dropdown menu that appears, choose “Add Predefined Group.”
5) In the Group Preferences on the right, select the frequency you want to have the group updated.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:45 am
Hi, as my native language is dutch, the TidBIT’s are to often changing things which are quite common in Dutch to very exiting new words.
As you can’t edit the origial file, I copied the TidBIT’s file as a local file so I could edit it.
Now I wan’t to de-install the original file. But this does not work. I does tell me that it is a irrevocable action (and I click Delete) but is does not delete.
Any help is appreciated.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:53 am
GP: Hmm, I’m not sure what the problem is. The steps you describe should work to remove the TidBITs AutoCorrect Dictionary. Please send an email to TextExpander Support (textexpander@smileonmymac.com) for a prompt response. They’ll be able to figure it out.