Microsoft Word 2008

Adding a Dictionary

A custom dictionary is a list of words you create which are not contained in the main Office dictionary. You can either create a new dictionary or modify the main dictionary. Custom dictionaries created in Word are shared with other Office programs. This can be useful when using specific terminology that is not in the standard dictionary. This document contains instructions for creating and editing a custom dictionary using Word.

Creating a Custom Dictionary
Importing Words to a Custom Dictionary
Selecting a Custom Dictionary
Editing a Custom Dictionary

Creating a Custom Dictionary

Begin creating a custom dictionary from the Word menu.

From the Word menu, select Preferences...
The Word Preferences dialog box appears.
In the Authoring and Proofing Tools section, click SPELLING AND GRAMMAR
The Spelling and Grammar options appear.
In the Spelling section, click DICTIONARIES...
The Custom Dictionaries dialog box appears.
Click NEW...
The New Dictionary dialog box appears.
In the Save As text box, type the file name for your new custom dictionary
From the Where pull-down list, select where you want to save the custom dictionary
Click SAVE
To close the Custom Dictionaries dialog box, click OK
To close the Spelling and Grammar dialog box, click OK

Importing Words to a Custom Dictionary

Rather than individually adding several words to a custom dictionary, you can import a document containing a list of words to add to a pre-existing custom dictionary. You will first need to create a word list in a separate document, then you can import the word list to a custom dictionary.

Creating the Word List

Create a new document in Word
In the document, type a word you want to add to the custom dictionary
NOTE: All entries will be stored case-sensitive.
Press [Return]
Repeat steps 2-3 for all words you want added to the custom dictionary
Click SAVE
The Save As dialog box appears.
In the Save As text box, type a name for your word list
In the Where pull-down list, select a save location
HINT: If you plan to import the world list, remember its name and where you saved it.
Click SAVE
Close the word list document
To continue importing words to a custom dictionary, import the word list

Importing the Word List

From the Word menu, select Preferences...
The Word Preferences dialog box appears.
In the Authoring and Proofing Tools section, click SPELLING AND GRAMMAR
The Spelling and Grammar options appear.
In the Spelling section, click DICTIONARIES...
The Custom Dictionaries dialog box appears.
In the dictionary list, select the custom dictionary you want to add words to
Click EDIT
An information dialog box appears.
Click OK
The custom dictionary appears.
From the Insert menu, select File...
The Insert File dialog box appears.
Navigate to and select the file containing the word list you want to import
Click INSERT
The word list is imported.
Click SAVE
Close the custom dictionary

Selecting a Custom Dictionary

By selecting a custom dictionary, Word will activate the custom dictionaries containing the words you consider permissible according to Office's spelling and grammar rules. You can activate more than one custom dictionary at a time.

Open the document you want to apply a custom dictionary for
From the Word menu, select Preferences...
The Word Preferences dialog box appears.
In the Authoring and Proofing Tools section, click SPELLING AND GRAMMAR
The Spelling and Grammar options appear.
In the Spelling section, click DICTIONARIES...
The Custom Dictionaries dialog box appears.
In the dictionary list, select the dictionary you want to use
NOTES:
You can choose more than one custom dictionary.
An option is selected when a checkmark appears in the box before it.
Click OK
The dictionary or dictionaries are selected.
Click OK

Editing a Custom Dictionary

You may edit or delete words in a custom dictionary by opening the dictionary and making the desired changes.

From the Word menu, select Preferences...
The Word Preferences dialog box appears.
In the Authoring and Proofing Tools section, click SPELLING AND GRAMMAR
The Spelling and Grammar options appear.
In the Spelling section, click DICTIONARIES...
The Custom Dictionaries dialog box appears.
In the custom dictionary list, select the dictionary to edit
Click EDIT
An information dialog box appears.
Click OK
The custom dictionary appears.
Make the desired changes
NOTES:
Each word must be typed on separate lines.
All entries will be stored case-sensitive.
Click SAVE
Close the dictionary