It's a question that may torment generations to come.
Is auto-correct a cruel modern-day ruse meant to toy with our text messages or is it a clumsy, but well-intentioned tool?
Even after years of having it "correct" our spelling errors to more mortifying words, the jury is still out on that one.
But there is one thing we can confirm about auto-correct: It's great for a laugh.
This week, the team at CTVNews.ca asked our readers to submit their most mortifying mix-ups and they didn't disappoint.
After hours of sorting through entries using a process that's about as methodical as an arcade claw machine, the time has come to marinate in shared embarrassment.
Here are some of the most cringe-worthy auto-gaffes submitted to CTVNews.ca:
An indecent proposal
Sometimes the best auto-correct blunders are the ones that go unnoticed for a little while, lingering in the recipient's inbox while you text in blissful ignorance.
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The most agonizing part of this submission? We may never find out if they made it to the efficiency inspection on time.
Signature swaps
If you think that a fancier phone will spare you from mortifying misspellings, think again. Even readers who purchased phones with touchscreens -- which are lauded for their ease and larger keypads -- had stories to share.
Take our reader Rita for instance.
Shortly after purchasing a BlackBerry Torch phone, complete with a touchscreen, she noticed something was abreast…err, amiss with her signature.
"I was signing off as 'Tits' rather than 'Rita'. If you see how the letters are placed, I was obviously hitting 'T' rather than 'R,'" she wrote in an email.
If it's any consolation Ti…uh, Rita, you're not alone.
Trish from Ottawa wrote in to tell us that her iPhone struggles with her name as well.
"When I'm too quick to hit send it autocorrects my first name Trish to ‘Trash' as the signature," she wrote, prompting us to conclude that her phone is a bully.
What's cooking?
Next up is a message from Christine, an iPhone user who may never have dinner guests again thanks to this scatological (and hilarious) auto-correct blunder.
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Side note: If that's what's in the pantry, we shudder to imagine what's in the fridge.
Where the heart is
Even the most well-intentioned messages can go awry.
Commenter Lisa recalled how a friend tried to wish her well after a recent gallbladder surgery.
"After texting back and forth a bit, said she hoped I would be back at the strip club soon," Lisa wrote. "That was very quickly followed by an ‘OMG I meant h o m e.'"
But here comes the plot twist. Auto-correct can't take all the blame for this blunder.
Like a smooth criminal, her friend's daughter had changed the settings on her mom's phone to correct the word "home" to "strip club."
Well done young maverick. Just don't be surprised when your mom texts you with a request to be at the "strip club" in time for dinner.
Love letters gone wrong
As the old saying goes, the path to an auto-gaffe is paved with good intentions. (Hang on. That's not a real adage, you say? Well there goes my tattoo idea.)
Commenter Neil wanted his wife to wake up to a 21st century love note but apparently auto-correct isn't one for romance.
"I typed ‘good morning cutie' to my wife and got ‘good morning colitis,'" he wrote.
There's nothing like an inflamed colon to fuel the passion in your marriage.
Tales from the road
Even when it mixes your words, most would agree that sometimes an auto-correct blunder is better than what appears to be no auto-correct at all.
Reader Jill emailed us a complaint she sent to the Alberta Motor Association, meant to take them to task for an inaccurate road report.
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"They answered very politely and in perfect English," said Jill. "This was when I saw what I sent and was horrified!"
Automated honesty
Despite all the horror stories, sometimes auto-correct can be shockingly intuitive; a miniature mind reader with a penchant for revealing your truest thoughts.
For instance, CTVNews.ca commenter Doug wrote in to tell us that his phone once insisted on calling someone "Moron" instead of "Myron."
"Funny thing is that Myron was a moron," he wrote.
Embarrassment on wheels
When her brother-in-law sold her a Cadillac SRX, commenter Jojo was so happy with the car that she wanted to thank him again for it via text.
Here's what she meant to write: "Hey Kevin, I really like the SRX, the ride is just great and really smooth. Thanks so much for the SRX."
Slight problem. Apparently, auto-correct isn't familiar with luxury vehicles and decided that "SEX" would be a reasonable substitution for "SRX"
"Needless to say it caused quite the little chuckle," wrote Jojo. "I now never send a text without checking it twice."
