# US 8,543,377 B2 · Using linguistically-aware variables in computer-generated text > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,377 B2 - Document ID: US8543377B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/845,997 - Filed: 2010-07-29 - Published: 2012-02-02 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-29 - Assignees: Intuit Inc. - Applicants: Peter J. Harris - Inventors: Peter J. Harris - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543377B2 ## CPC - G06F 40/253: Grammatical analysis; Style critique - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for placing linguistically-aware variables in computer-generated text. During operation, the system receives a sentence at a computer system, wherein the sentence comprises two or more words. Next, the system analyzes the sentence to identify a first variable, wherein the first variable is a place-holder for a first word. The system then receives the first word. After that, the system automatically determines a gender of the first word. Next, the system analyzes the sentence to identify a first dependent word that is dependent on the first word, wherein a spelling of the first dependent word is dependent on the gender of the first word. The system then determines the spelling of the first dependent word that corresponds to the gender of the first word. Next, the system replaces the first variable in the sentence with the first word. If necessary, the system modifies the spelling of the first dependent word in the sentence to match the gender of the first word. Finally, the system outputs the sentence. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for using linguistically-aware variables in computer-generated text, the method comprising: receiving a sentence at a computer system, wherein the sentence comprises two or more words; analyzing the sentence to identify a first variable, wherein the first variable is a place-holder for a first word; receiving the first word; automatically determining a gender of the first word; analyzing, by a computer, the sentence to identify a first dependent word that is dependent on the first word, wherein a spelling of the first dependent word is dependent on the gender of the first word; replacing the first variable in the sentence with the first word; determining the spelling of the first dependent word that corresponds to the gender of the first word, and if necessary, modifying the spelling of the first dependent word in the sentence to match the gender of the first word; and outputting the sentence. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein automatically determining the gender of the first word involves: determining a spelling of the first word; and analyzing the spelling of the first word using a pre-determined list of rules to determine the gender. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first word additionally includes receiving a grammatical article for the first word. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein automatically determining the gender of the first word involves analyzing the grammatical article. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein automatically determining the gender of the first word involves performing a lookup in a dictionary. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: analyzing the sentence to identify a grammatical article that is associated with the first word; and modifying a spelling of the grammatical article to match the gender of the first word. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a language of the sentence can include: French; Spanish; Italian; Polish; Russian; Hindi; Hebrew; and any other languages that support grammatical genders. ### Claim 8 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for using linguistically-aware variables in computer-generated text, the method comprising: receiving a sentence at a computer system, wherein the sentence comprises two or more words; analyzing the sentence to identify a first variable, wherein the first variable is a place-holder for a first word; receiving the first word; automatically determining a gender of the first word; analyzing the sentence to identify a first dependent word that is dependent on the first word, wherein a spelling of the first dependent word is dependent on the gender of the first word; replacing the first variable in the sentence with the first word; determining the spelling of the first dependent word that corresponds to the gender of the first word, and if necessary, modifying the spelling of the first dependent word in the sentence to match the gender of the first word; and outputting the sentence. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein automatically determining the gender of the first word involves: determining a spelling of the first word; and analyzing the spelling of the first word using a pre-determined list of rules to determine the gender. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein receiving the first word additionally includes receiving a grammatical article for the first word. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein automatically determining the gender of the first word involves analyzing the grammatical article. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein automatically determining the gender of the first word involves performing a lookup in a dictionary. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises: analyzing the sentence to identify a grammatical article that is associated with the first word; and modifying a spelling of the grammatical article to match the gender of the first word. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein a language of the sentence can include: French; Spanish; Italian; Polish; Russian; Hindi; Hebrew; and any other languages that support grammatical genders. ### Claim 15 An apparatus configured to use linguistically-aware variables in computer-generated text, comprising: a memory; a processor; a receiving mechanism configured to receive a sentence at a computer system, wherein the sentence comprises two or more words; an analysis mechanism configured to analyze the sentence to identify a first variable, wherein the first variable is a place-holder for a first word; wherein the receiving mechanism is further configured to receive the first word; a determination mechanism configured to automatically determine a gender of the first word; wherein the analysis mechanism is further configured to analyze the sentence to identify a first dependent word that is dependent on the first word, wherein a spelling of the first dependent word is dependent on the gender of the first word; a replacement mechanism configured to replace the first variable in the sentence with the first word; wherein the determination mechanism is further configured to determine the spelling of the first dependent word that corresponds to the gender of the first word; a modification mechanism configured to modify the spelling of the first dependent word in the sentence to match the gender of the first word if necessary; and an output mechanism configured to output the sentence. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the determination mechanism automatically determines the gender of the first word by: determining a spelling of the first word; and analyzing the spelling of the first word using a pre-determined list of rules to determine the gender. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the receiving mechanism additionally receives a grammatical article for the first word. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the determination mechanism automatically determines the gender of the first word by analyzing the grammatical article. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the determination mechanism automatically determines the gender of the first word by performing a lookup in a dictionary. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15: wherein the analysis mechanism is further configured to analyze the sentence to identify a grammatical article that is associated with the first word; and wherein the modification mechanism is further configured to modify a spelling of the grammatical article to match the gender of the first word.