Spell Checking Oriented Word Lists (SCOWL)
-Version 2015.08.24
-Mon Aug 24 16:39:36 2015 -0400 [39cf19d]
+Version 2018.04.16
+Mon Apr 16 22:11:56 2018 -0400 [7bbe293]
by Kevin Atkinson (kevina@gnu.org)
The SCOWL is a collection of word lists split up in various sizes, and
naming convention:
<spelling category>-<sub-category>.<size>
Where the spelling category is one of
- english, american, british, british_z, canadian,
+ english, american, british, british_z, canadian, australian
variant_1, variant_2, variant_3,
- british_variant_1, british_variant_2,
+ british_variant_1, british_variant_2,
canadian_variant_1, canadian_variant_2,
+ australian_variant_1, australian_variant_2
Sub-category is one of
abbreviations, contractions, proper-names, upper, words
And size is one of
When manually combining the words lists the "english" spelling
category should be used as well as one of "american", "british",
-"british_z" (british with ize spelling), or "canadian". Great care
-has been taken so that only one spelling for any particular word
-is included in the main list (with some minor exceptions). When two
-variants were considered equal I randomly picked one for inclusion in
-the main word list. Unfortunately this means that my choice in how to
-spell a word may not match your choice. If this is the case you can
-try including one of the "variant_1" spelling categories which
+"british_z" (british with ize spelling), "canadian" or "australian".
+Great care has been taken so that only one spelling for any particular
+word is included in the main list (with some minor exceptions). When
+two variants were considered equal I randomly picked one for inclusion
+in the main word list. Unfortunately this means that my choice in how
+to spell a word may not match your choice. If this is the case you
+can try including one of the "variant_1" spelling categories which
includes most variants which are considered almost equal. The
"variant_1" spelling category corresponds mostly to American variants,
-while the "british_variant_1" and "canadian_variant_1" are for British
-and Canadian variants, respectively. The "variant_2" spelling
-categories include variants which are also generally considered
-acceptable, and "variant_3" contains variants which are seldom used
-and may not even be considered correct. There is no
-"british_variant_3" or "canadian_variant_3" spelling category since
+while the "british_variant_1", "canadian_variant_1" and
+"australian_variant_1" are for British, Canadian and Australian
+variants, respectively. The "variant_2" spelling categories include
+variants which are also generally considered acceptable, and
+"variant_3" contains variants which are seldom used and may not even
+be considered correct. There is no "british_variant_3",
+"canadian_variant_3" or "australian_variant_3" spelling category since
the distinction would be almost meaningless.
The "abbreviation" category includes abbreviations and acronyms which
To give you an idea of what the words in the various sizes look like
here is a sample of 25 random words found only in that size:
-10: agreement analysis anyplace associated command covers danger domain
- established fairly falls gasoline generally hiding implement improving
- obvious origin partially proof prospect publication shop threat welcomes
-
-20: apologizing approximation arc catalogs debates defend deserted graduated
- harmony humane interacted interviewed lightninged marker merge passion
- questionnaire radical sentient signatures strips stupidity timer
- undergone weaknesses
-
-35: absurdity afar blinkers chairperson colloquial curvature effusive
- ejecting hoards investor kickback lapsed monstrous outstripped oxidation
- pointlessly pores reveler reverberation seclude tanked tasseling
- terminators uncovered understatement
-
-40: activism aphrodisiacs apocalypse approbations assholes baa checkmate
- collectibles commentated defection deforestation elates euphemistic
- flubbed gunrunners platefuls procreated resonate saxes seminal shortcut
- stripteasing unfairness upstage yep
-
-50: agilely antipodes bandoleers boasters complainant comporting
- concertmaster counterclaiming dishrag distaff fatalists inconceivably
- joshed junker marmosets pachyderm reassembling rectifiable selectivity
- shadowboxing stammerer subjoined tackler unhorsing wacks
-
-55: ambulancewoman behaviorist behindhand bookstall cochineal commies
- commissionaire crabwise craftswoman denationalized eponymous girly plenum
- racegoers remolded sadhu samosa shorthanded slurry snobbishly
- turbochargers twilit vaginas waterborne yellowness
-
-60: antiquarianism barterers bivalent calciferous cambial cermet
- collateralize discrepant femininely frolickers fustiness grandnieces
- noncumulative nonfictional nonparticipants nonredeemable obsolesce
- overdecorates overexertion reinsertion rewashing tonging unfiltered
- ungraceful venturousness
-
-70: acyl bandoline capote conjunctival disheartenment disprize gyrostatics
- hylomorphism incoercible martlet monochromatism mucoprotein nympha
- paraphiliac perichondrium phenazine standoffishness subtypes televisor
- tramontane trustily tyrannicidal ultramicrometer underusing zootoxin
-
-80: angularnesses arrantly busher cornborers cosentient cotehardie
- deglamorizing erythorbates gefülltefish gramash gunkholing logie
- lovelornness mousmee murry nielled opisthotonic partitioners quietsome
- shedhand specificate tacrine unearmarked vavassor veridicous
-
-95: amphigean apionol besugo blunnen centriciput comblessness dipleiodoscope
- friskest galloflavine harpylike insupposable microchiropteran
- nongeographic nontradition oxygas porcelanite precompelled presubdue
- receptitious semiliberal sheetwriting thermolyzing trifoliata
- unsyllogistical zephiran
+10: able bidding bound built contact direct discouraged every experts flight
+ impose live lower mail negative plant repeat sorry spot strongly success
+ technique trouble workers yours
+
+20: adapting astronomy asynchronous beer believer ceasing comedy comprised
+ daughter deletion ditch dripped gathers generalizations infinity
+ interacted orchestral padding petty risked stems struggled tiny tribes
+ wreck
+
+35: amnesty annihilating authorship barged bathtubs curdled debilities
+ excusable founders glimpsing ladled lieutenants mobbed naturalness
+ naughtily obesity ogling pinpointing scabbing semester sirens soloed
+ soundly visuals witched
+
+40: capitulation catamaran closeout cobblestones crosstown defector enamoring
+ fractionally homecoming honorably hypes impersonator incontinent mopeds
+ niggle nondenominational quads redeveloping retrial skydives slalom
+ speckle speedway uncharacteristically unzips
+
+50: anthropomorphism bespeaks bodega colossi debauches disobediently drub
+ enervated headboard helot hex idealistically lambkin linebackers
+ minimization misruled pinafores popovers scratchiness spiny tiresomeness
+ underplaying wardrooms waxworks wrongness
+
+55: anglophiles anticoagulant borehole choirboys commonality cutaway defogged
+ exeunt gatecrashing holdalls kvetch loughs photostat pitheads potholer
+ provincially ritualized roadshows rota themed toecaps townies uneatable
+ warplanes whops
+
+60: adventurousness anodizing austral beanstalk bemusedly chorea cotangents
+ counterspy crackheads fishponds floggers hairsplitter hombre homiletic
+ invalidism kepi provability redyes reifying riflers tarsus trainman
+ tritium unchains valetudinarian
+
+70: acrophobic algor artel benny bilharziasis colocynth cotoneaster duckpond
+ electrostatically evulsion exegetics felly fictionist ironsides laminator
+ monandries nonhero pervious pily presbyopic relativizing squeteague
+ syringomyelia verifiers volleyer
+
+80: boltings bouldering butcherings disaffirmances extrications exulceration
+ flybanes glossators moderations naething ois paddlefishes perimorphisms
+ phagocytose plicating protiums recanters redliner semple
+ septendecillionths shebeeners tegmentum tritubercular uncasked vacuates
+
+95: bufonidae callityping cantingness cavish electrosensitive entayles
+ halcyonian hexagonial idoxuridines insorbent lowbrowism mantispid
+ overspeak predeclaring prerealized propheticalness pseudoracemism
+ reaedifyes selaginellales setover supercomplex theogeological unlasting
+ weirdsome wote
And here is a count on the number of words in each spelling category
(american + english spelling category):
Size Words Names Running Total %
- 10 4,427 13 4,440 0.7
- 20 8,122 0 12,562 1.9
- 35 37,259 222 50,043 7.6
- 40 6,846 491 57,380 8.7
- 50 25,129 18,213 100,722 15.3
- 55 6,509 0 107,231 16.3
- 60 13,895 745 121,871 18.5
- 70 35,634 7,934 165,439 25.2
- 80 144,343 33,371 343,153 52.2
- 95 227,730 86,651 657,534 100.0
+ 10 4,426 13 4,439 0.7
+ 20 8,128 0 12,567 1.9
+ 35 37,259 222 50,048 7.6
+ 40 6,853 491 57,392 8.7
+ 50 25,226 18,316 100,934 15.3
+ 55 6,489 0 107,423 16.3
+ 60 14,425 846 122,694 18.7
+ 70 35,328 7,899 165,921 25.2
+ 80 144,216 33,367 343,504 52.2
+ 95 227,661 86,633 657,798 100.0
(The "Words" column does not include the name count.)
Size 35 is the recommended small size, 50 the medium and 70 the large.
-For spell checking I recommend using 60. Sizes 70 and below contain
-words found in most dictionaries while the 80 size contains all the
-strange and unusual words people like to use in word games such as
-Scrabble (TM). While a lot of the words in the 80 size are not
-used very often, they are all generally considered valid words in the
-English language. The 95 contains just about every English word in
-existence and then some. Many of the words at the 95 level will
-probably not be considered valid English words by most people. I use
-the 60 size for the English dictionary for Aspell, and I don't
-recommend anyone use levels above 70 for spell checking. Levels above
-70 contain rarely used words which can hide misspellings of similar
-more commonly used words. For example the word "ort" can hide a
-common typo of "or". No one should need to use a size larger than 80,
-the 95 size is labeled insane for a reason.
+Sizes 70 and below contain words found in most dictionaries while the
+80 size contains all the strange and unusual words people like to use
+in word games such as Scrabble (TM). While a lot of the words in the
+80 size are not used very often, they are all generally considered
+valid words in the English language. The 95 contains just about every
+English word in existence and then some. Many of the words at the 95
+level will probably not be considered valid English words by most
+people.
+
+For spell checking I recommend using size 60. This size is the
+largest size that I am fairly confident does not contain any
+misspellings or invalid words. In addition an effort is made to
+exclude valid yet problematic words (such as "calender") from the 60
+size that are likely to be a misspelling of a more common word. The
+70 size is reasonable for those wanting a larger list and don't mind a
+few errors. The 80 or larger sizes are not reasonable for spell
+checking.
Accents are present on certain words such as café in iso8859-1 format.
CHANGES:
+From Version 2017.08.24 to 2018.04.16
+
+ Various new words.
+
+ Fix build problems on macOS.
+
+From Version 2017.01.22 to 2017.08.24
+
+ Various new words.
+
+From Version 2016.11.20 to 2017.01.22
+
+ Various new words.
+
+From Version 2016.06.26 to 2016.11.20
+
+ New Australian spelling category thanks to the work of Benjamin
+ Titze (btitze@protonmail.ch)
+
+ Various new words.
+
+From Version 2016.01.19 to 2016.06.26
+
+ Various new words.
+
+ Updated to Version 6.0.2 of 12dicts
+
+ Other minor changes.
+
+From Version 2015.08.24 to 2016.01.19
+
+ Various new words.
+
+ Clarified README to indicate why the 60 size is the preferred size
+ for spell checking.
+
+ Remove some very uncommon possessive forms.
+
+ Change "SET UTF8" to "SET UTF-8" in hunspell affix file.
+
From Version 2015.05.18 to 2015.08.24 (Aug 24, 2015)
Various new words.
Add schema and scripts for creating a SQLite database from SCOWL.
Add some utility and library functions using them. This database is
- used by the new web app's (http://app.aspel.net/lookup & create).
+ used by the new web app's (http://app.aspell.net/lookup & create).
Enhance speller/make-hunspell-dict. The biggest improvement is that
it that it now generates several more dictionaries in addition to
Moved rarely used inflections of a word into higher number lists.
-From 7.1
-
- Shifted the variant levels so that level 0 is now 1, level 1 now 2,
- and level 2 now 3.
-
Added other inflections of a words based on the following criteria
If the word is in the base form: only include that word.
If the word is in a plural form: include the base word and the plural
COPYRIGHT, SOURCES, and CREDITS:
-The collective work is Copyright 2000-2015 by Kevin Atkinson as well
+The collective work is Copyright 2000-2016 by Kevin Atkinson as well
as any of the copyrights mentioned below:
- Copyright 2000-2015 by Kevin Atkinson
+ Copyright 2000-2016 by Kevin Atkinson
Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute and sell these word
lists, the associated scripts, the output created from the scripts,
Accent information was taken from UKACD.
-My VARCON package was used to create the American, British, and
-Canadian word list.
+The VarCon package was used to create the American, British, Canadian,
+and Australian word list. It is under the following copyright:
+
+ Copyright 2000-2016 by Kevin Atkinson
+
+ Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute and sell this array, the
+ associated software, and its documentation for any purpose is hereby
+ granted without fee, provided that the above copyright notice appears
+ in all copies and that both that copyright notice and this permission
+ notice appear in supporting documentation. Kevin Atkinson makes no
+ representations about the suitability of this array for any
+ purpose. It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty.
+
+ Copyright 2016 by Benjamin Titze
+
+ Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute and sell this array, the
+ associated software, and its documentation for any purpose is hereby
+ granted without fee, provided that the above copyright notice appears
+ in all copies and that both that copyright notice and this permission
+ notice appear in supporting documentation. Benjamin Titze makes no
+ representations about the suitability of this array for any
+ purpose. It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty.
-Since the original word lists used in the VARCON package came
-from the Ispell distribution they are under the Ispell copyright:
+ Since the original words lists come from the Ispell distribution:
Copyright 1993, Geoff Kuenning, Granada Hills, CA
All rights reserved.
products derived from this software without specific prior
written permission.
- THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY GEOFF KUENNING AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS
- IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
- LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
- FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL GEOFF
- KUENNING OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
- INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING,
- BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
- LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
- CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
- LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN
- ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
- POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY GEOFF KUENNING AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND
+ ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+ IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+ ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL GEOFF KUENNING OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+ FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+ DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
+ OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
+ HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
+ LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
+ OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+ SUCH DAMAGE.
The variant word lists were created from a list of variants found in
projects / deb_pkgs / scowl.git / blobdiff