spellchecker.py

f = open('/usr/share/dict/words')
#     this is where my dictionary lives on my Mac

words = f.read().splitlines()
# one word per line

f.close()
# OS complains if we don't close files

def spotTheDifference(myword, properword):
    '''count the number of letter differences between 
       the two string parameters'''
    numDiffs = 0
    i = 0
    while i < len(myword) and i< len(properword):
        if myword[i] != properword[i]:
            numDiffs = numDiffs+1
        i = i+1
    numDiffs = numDiffs + abs(len(myword) - len(properword))
    return numDiffs


def checkAWord(myWord):
    '''see if a word spellchecks, if not print
       some suggested corrections'''
    wordIsGood = False
    if myWord in words:
        wordIsGood = True
        print(myWord, "is correct")
    else:
        for i in range(1, 4):
            for word in words:
                if spotTheDifference(word, myWord) == i:
                    print("did you mean ... ", word, "?")