Microsoft Office 2008
Working with Spell Check
Spell Check is a feature that checks for spelling errors in a document. Spell Check can be useful in preventing embarrassing mistakes, but be aware that Spell Check cannot detect usage errors such as their vs. there.
NOTE: Although options and instructions vary slightly by program, the Spell Check feature is available in all Office programs. This document uses Word's Spell Check feature as an example.
Activating Automatic Spell Check
By default, Spell Check is automatically on whenever an Office program is open. When you turn this feature off, Spell Check will not run as you work on your document. You can also check the spelling in a document after you are finished typing.
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From the Tools menu, select Spelling and Grammar...
OR
Press [alt] + [
] + [L]
The Spelling and Grammar dialog box appears.
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In the Spelling and Grammar dialog box, click OPTIONS...
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To activate Automatic Spell Check, in the Spelling section, select Check spelling as you type
NOTE: The option is selected if a checkmark appears in front of it. -
Click OK
Correcting Spelling
When the dictionary recognizes a word as misspelled, the word is underlined with a wavy red line. You can correct misspelled text through the Quick menu or through a dialog box. For words that are often misspelled or mistyped, you may use AutoCorrect to automatically correct the mistakes as they are typed.
Correcting Spelling: Quick Menu Option
Using the Quick menu to modify misspelled text allows you to manage your misspelled word(s) quickly and easily.
- Press [control] and click the misspelled word » select the appropriate option:
Spelling Suggestions
Gives suggestions for correcting the misspelled word
Ignore
Ignores that instance of the word
Ignore All
Ignores that word and every other instance of that word
Add
Adds the word to the custom dictionary
AutoCorrect
Provides word choices for the automatic correction of the misspelled word
Spelling...
Opens the Spelling dialog box, which allows you to change the misspelled word
Correcting Spelling: Dialog Box Option
Using the dialog box option is a little more time-consuming, but you have more options for correcting misspelled words.
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From the Tools menu, select Spelling and Grammar...
OR
Press [alt] + [] + [L]
The Spelling and Grammar dialog box appears.
-
Select the desired option for each misspelling
NOTE: The dialog box options include all Quick menu options in addition to the following options.Ignore
Ignores that singular occurrence of the wordIgnore All
Ignores all occurrences of the wordChange
Changes the word to the selected suggestionChange All
Changes all identical misspellings to the selected suggestion
- When Spell Check is complete, in the dialog box that appears, click OK
