Beware of the automatic grammar check

Is the grammar check on your word processing package always correct?

As Australians, we live in a grammatical no man’s land. Do we follow the English or American rules? Most word processing packages are automatically set to the American settings. Their suggestion may not always be appropriate in the Australian context.

Surprisingly, there is no official governmental regulator or overseer of correct spelling and grammar.

Where does Australia stand on grammar? Whilst there is no official regulator it would be safe to say that the Macquarie dictionary would be Australia’s most reliable source on such matters. The Australian government has a guide to help Australian Government teams design simple, clear and fast content.

You can change the settings in your word processing package but I have found that it is easier to check with the Macquarie dictionary or the guide provided by the Australian Government.