Adding Words to a Dictionary

When you add words to a dictionary, you specify the type of action you want the spell checker to take when it finds that word. Six different actions are available. There are two auto change options (which change the word automatically for you), two conditionally change options (which allow you to decide whether or not to change the word), an ignore option, and an exclude option.

Auto change (use case of other word)

Use this option to flag words that you want to change to the case and spelling of the replace­ment word you enter in the dictionary. This auto change option allows you to maintain con­sistent capitalization for specific words. To enable this op­tion, you must also select the Auto Correct option in the spell checker Options dia­log box.

Auto change (use case of checked word)

Words flagged with this option will be automatically changed to their re­place­ment word. The case will remain the same as that of the original word. Using this auto change option to correct common misspellings or words that you commonly mistype will speed up your work considerably. To use this option, you must also select the Auto Correct option in the spell checker Options dia­log box.

Conditionally change (use case of other word)

Whenever the spell checker detects a word flagged with this option, it will suggest the case-specific replacement you specify so you can decide whether it should be changed. When you select the correction, it uses the case of the replacement word. This option is useful for flagging words that you sometimes cap­italize and sometimes don’t, because you can decide which spelling is correct in a given situation.

Conditionally change (use case of checked word)

When you flag a word with this option, you specify the replacement. When the spell checker detects the word, it will suggest the replacement you specified. When you select the word, it uses the case of the word you are replacing. Like the Exclude option below, this option is useful for words you often confuse or mistype, but it suggests the replacement you specify in the dictionary. It is a better choice than Conditionally Change (use case of other word) for common words when case depends on the sentence syntax.

Ignore (skip)

All words flagged as Ignore are ignored by the spell checker. Use this option for words that are not recognized by the spell checker but are correct in your forms, such as trade or product names, acronyms, and words specific to the types of forms you create.

Exclude (treat as misspelled)

All words flagged as Exclude are considered misspelled, even if they are considered correct by one of the dictionaries. Use Exclude to flag words that you always want to check, such as words that may be correct in some contexts but not in others, words you want to make sure that you do not use, or words you often confuse or mistype.

To add a word to a dictionary

1. Select Options from the Tools menu to display the Options dialog.

2. Click on the Workspace tab. The Dictionaries dialog will ap­pear.

3. Select the dictionary file you want to add words to from the Files list. If the dictionary is not in the current list, click and select it. It will be opened and added to the list.

4. For each word you want to add, do the following:

  • Type the word you want the spell checker to look for in the Words text box at the top of the dialog box.

  • Select the type of Action you want to take for the word.

  • If your action choice is Auto Change or Conditionally Change,enter the “replace­ment” word in the Other word field.

  • Click the button. The word will appear in the list.

5. Click to exit from the Dictionaries dialog. You will return to the Options dialog.

6. Click to close the Options dialog.