Microsoft Word Tips | The Custom Dictionary | Correcting Errors | Tip 77

If you use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, and / or similar Microsoft applications, you'll most likely regularly use the built-in spelling checker. However sometimes, especially if we're in a hurry, while running a spell-check, we can all to easily add a word to the custom dictionary that we may not have intended. If that happens, unless we fix the error, from that point on our incorrectly spelled word most likely won't be challenged by the spell checker, since our flawed entry would now be listed in the spell check database as correctly spelled.

For example, if we type "aout" instead of "about", the Microsoft Word spell-checker will usually pick up the error and prompt us to correct the mistake. At that stage, normally we would make sure that the spell checker has also presented the correctly spelled version of the word from its internal list - or we would simply choose or enter the correct version. Next, we would choose the "Change" button to correct the error. Yet at that stage, if we mistakenly choose "Add to Dictionary" instead, we'll have essentially added an incorrectly spelled word and listed this as correct. Easily done when we're rushing to complete an important document or email. Let's explore how to quickly fix such errors.

What is the Custom Dictionary?

Any words we add to the spell checker get stored in a file Microsoft refers to as a custom dictionary. Although we can have several custom dictionaries, for the purposes of this brief article, we'll assume we have only one for now: the default custom dictionary. When your custom dictionary contains incorrectly spelled words, I recommend that you remove them.

How to Correct Errors in Your Custom Dictionary in 9 Simple Steps

Here's what you need to do:

• If you're using Microsoft Windows, within your Microsoft Word application, to to the Tools menu, then choose the Options command. If you're using an Apple Mac computer, choose the (word) Application menu, followed by preferences command.
• In the Options dialog box, choose the Spelling & Grammar tab.
• Choose the Custom Dictionaries button.
• In the Custom Dictionaries dialog box, highlight / select the CUSTOM.dic from the Dictionary list.
• Choose the Modify button. For the Apple Mac: Custom Dictionary: Edit.
• In the CUSTOM.dic dialog box, you'll see the list of all words. Select / highlight the word you want to work with. If you want to remove the word, choose the Delete button. To edit a word, the selected word is shown in the Word box, simply edit the word to spell correctly and choose the Add button.
• In the CUSTOM.dic dialog box, choose the OK button to save your changes and close the box.
• In the Custom Dictionaries dialog box, choose the OK button save your changes and close the box.
• In the Options dialog box, choose the OK button to save your changes and close the box.

For writers, editors, Internet entrepreneurs and website content creators especially, Tip 77 - how to correct errors in your Microsoft Custom Dictionary, is especially relevant and useful - and can help us all avoid making those embarrassing mistakes that are so easily made.

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