While Microsoft does adapt the dictionary as language evolves, it doesn't always include slang or words that are in the zeitgeist. If you work in an industry that uses a lot of specialized terms, Word won't necessarily recognize these. In the Word Options dialog box, on the Proofing tab, under When correcting spelling in Microsoft Office programs, click the Custom Dictionaries. This inconsistency in behavior makes it all the more reason that you should stay on your guard, though. This dictionary, specific to the language version of your installation, is used by the spell-checker to flag words that may be incorrect. For example, if you type "I don't no the answer", it will either autocorrect or flag the misuse of "no". Enter the words you want to add, one on each line, using the Enter key after each one, then save and close the file. When you install Microsoft Word, a general-purpose dictionary is automatically installed. However, Word can recognize the context on some sentences and correct you accordingly. Select your new dictionary in the Custom Dictionaries dialog box (see figure 10). Technically, you didn't misspell anything, but "bare" should be "bear". Often, these words have different spelling, and the Microsoft Word spellchecker doesn't detect all of them.įor example, you can type "I saw a bare in the woods" and the spellchecker won't mark anything wrong. Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings. While Microsoft Office does have an autocorrect function ( File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options), it won't automatically fix your more outlandish mistakes. If you have to trawl through and correct your spelling, it's time-consuming. This is especially problematic in situations where time is of the essence or where you don't want your creativity interrupted.Ĭonsider making minutes during a meeting or writing a novel. If you're constantly making spelling mistakes that you need to resolve with Word's spell check, it can slow you down. This can force the correct spelling into your brain so you spell it correctly next time. If the spell checker spots a mistake, attempt to resolve it yourself first. There's no incentive to remember the correct spelling if you're safe in the knowledge that Word will always catch it for you.īut what happens when you're writing something outside of Microsoft Office? Perhaps you're writing a card or jotting something down for a colleague? It can look sloppy and unprofessional if your writing is full of spelling mistakes. While it's great that technology is there to lend a hand, it also means you might not learn from your mistakes. When you know the spell checker is always by your side, it's very easy to become reliant on it. Here are some of the drawbacks to using it. It's not all rosy with the Word spellchecker, however. The Disadvantages of Using Microsoft Word's Spell Check
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |