Spell checks

Microsoft Word’s spell-check, that tool much blessed by writers and editors, is politically correct when it comes to the spelling of the names of Indian locations. But it is often behind the times. So, if you want to know how many hs and ts are there in Chhattisgarh, the state that was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000, Word is a handy reference point. It’s the same with Jharkhand, formerly part of Bihar. But Word continues to recognise Uttaranchal, the UP breakaway, rather than Uttarakhand, the name the state was officially given in 2007. This even when it recognises Bengaluru, the new name for Bangalore that was proposed in 2005 but is still to be officially notified. So, no surprises that Odisha, the new name for Orissa that was notified this year, still gets a little red squiggle under it.