The Custom Dictionary: MS Word

When you click Add during a spell check, the marked word is not added to Word's Main Dictionary, but to your Custom Dictionary. A spell check will not stop on any word added to your Custom Dictionary.

Editing the Custom Dictionary

At time you may need to edit or delete an entry inadvertently added to your Custom Dictionary. You might also wish to add entries manually.

To edit your Custom Dictionary:

1. Choose Tools | Options
    
2. Click the Spelling & Grammar tab.
    
3. Click the Dictionaries button. The Custom Dictionaries dialog box displays.
    
4. The Custom Dictionaries dialog box lists all available dictionaries. A check mark to the left of a dictionary indicates that it is active.
    
5. Click Modify . Word reminds you that if you proceed, Check spelling as you type will be disabled. To resume spell checking as you type, you'll have to turn the feature back on once you've finished editing the Custom Dictionary.
    
6. Click OK to proceed.
    
7. Word displays your Custom Dictionary in a new window.
    
8. You can now make any additions or deletions directly to words. If you add words, please each new word on it is own line.
    
9. Click File | Save.
    
10. Click File | Close.

Adding a Custom Dictionary

You can create additional Custom Dictionaries, which can b e used for specialized purposes. For example, create a legal dictionary for use with legal documents, or a medical dictionary for use with medical documents, etc.

To create an additional Custom Dictionary:

1. Choose Tools | Options.
    
2. Click the Spelling & Grammar tab.
    
3. Click Dictionaries.
    
4. Click New.
    
5. In the File name box, type a name for your new Custom Dictionary.
    
6. Click Save.
    
7. Click OK to close the Custom Dictionaries dialog box.
    
8. Click OK to close the Options dialog box.

Your new dictionary will be added to the Custom Dictionaries list. To fill your new Custom Dictionary with words, follow the steps above under Editing the Custom Dictionary.

Activating a Custom Dictionary

Before Word will check words against an additional Custom Dictionary, it must first be activated. You can activate up to ten Custom Dictionaries at once.

To activate an additional Custom Dictionary:

• Choose Tools | Options.
   
• Click the Spelling & Grammar tab.
   
• Click Dictionaries.
   
• Check each Custom Dictionary you'd like to activate.
   
• Click OK.
   
• Click Close.

The Custom Dictionary is shared between Word and other Microsoft Office applications. Any words entered in one application will be available in the others.

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