Google's "Did you mean" feature

D3mon · #1 (**permalink**) Oct 11th, 2004, 15:35

How does this feature work from a SQL DB point of view? For anyone not familiar with it, it essentially provides a suggested spell-checked equivalent of the current search term.
My *guess* is that it's the most common soundex match from exisiting database content?

Rob · #2 (**permalink**) Oct 11th, 2004, 15:46

You got me stumped... but I dont think it's as simple as sound-alike words.
I think google would have the technology to find the 'closest' match based on terabytes of past search terms entered into google.

As to how it does this, I am not totally sure but obviously it is similar in function to MS word spelll check, or any online spell checker.

If you find a definitive answer, let us all know.

benbacardi · #3 (**permalink**) Oct 11th, 2004, 16:26

type in 'french military victories' and click on i'm feeling lucky....

spinal007 · #4 (**permalink**) Oct 11th, 2004, 17:49

LOL
THAT IS A CLASSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rob · #5 (**permalink**) Oct 11th, 2004, 17:49

Ben.... whilst its still funny.... it's pretty old now.

lol... some people cant help themselves!!

benbacardi · #6 (**permalink**) Oct 11th, 2004, 17:52

i know its old, but some people still like it :wink:

Smokie · #7 (**permalink**) Oct 12th, 2004, 08:39

Google's spell checking software automatically looks at your query and checks to see if you are using the most common version of a word's spelling. If it calculates that you're likely to generate more relevant search results with an alternative spelling, it will ask "Did you mean: (more common spelling)?". Clicking on the suggested spelling will launch a Google search for that term. Because Google's spell check is based on occurrences of all words on the Internet, it is able to suggest common spellings for proper nouns (names and places) that might not appear in a standard spell check program or dictionary.

Smokie · #8 (**permalink**) Oct 12th, 2004, 08:41

you can even use the google API in your ASP code to do spell checking!

http://www.asp101.com/articles/jerem...ll/default.asp

Rob · #9 (**permalink**) Oct 12th, 2004, 09:47

Smokie... I actually use that part of the API on this site.... I really should have thought of that first... lol

D3mon, this may be what you are looking for.... if you need help consuming the API, let me know.

D3mon · #10 (**permalink**) Oct 12th, 2004, 13:20

The site I've got in mind for this will very likely use more than 1000 corrections per day.

Rob · #11 (**permalink**) Oct 12th, 2004, 16:28

get multiple API keys then..... lmao

D3mon · #12 (**permalink**) Oct 12th, 2004, 17:38

oops, forgot to mention is for commercial use also :mad:

Smokie · #13 (**permalink**) Oct 13th, 2004, 08:35

search for a spell checker COM then dude

D3mon · #14 (**permalink**) Oct 13th, 2004, 09:41

remote host won't support COM. Tricky situation eh? It's only a nice-to-have feature though - not urgent.

Rob · #15 (**permalink**) Oct 13th, 2004, 10:03

Hi D3mon.... There is always a way even if you dont use this:-
http://www.thekamura.net/v4.5/scripts/default.asp?id=55 (pretty crude and relies on MS Word installed on client)

There are other ways, such as using the http/xml objects to fire info at a webserver and examine the response.... I know you know your way around that one :wink:

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Google's "Did you mean" feature