Create and use custom dictionaries

Microsoft Office Word 2003

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Spelling & Grammar tab.
  2. Click Custom Dictionaries.
  3. Click New.
  4. In the File name box, type a name for the custom dictionary.
  5. Click Save.
  6. In the Dictionary list box, select the new custom dictionary.
  7. Activate the custom dictionary.

    ShowHow?

    1. In the Custom Dictionaries dialog box, make sure the check box beside the dictionary's name is selected.
    2. On the Spelling & Grammar tab, clear the Suggest from main dictionary only check box.

ShowAdd an existing custom dictionary

The Custom Dictionaries dialog box lists the available custom dictionaries Word can use to check spelling. If the dictionary you want to use— for example, one you purchased from a third-party company— is installed on your computer but not listed in the Dictionary list box, you can add it.

If you need help installing a third-party dictionary, see the installation instructions for that dictionary.

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Spelling & Grammar tab.
  2. Click Custom Dictionaries.
  3. If the custom dictionary you want isn't in the Custom Dictionaries box, click Add.
  4. Locate the folder containing the custom dictionary you want, and double-click the dictionary file.
  5. If you want to make this dictionary the default dictionary, click the dictionary name, and then click Change Default.

  6. Activate the custom dictionary.

    ShowHow?

    1. In the Custom Dictionaries dialog box, make sure the check box beside the dictionary's name is selected.
    2. On the Spelling & Grammar tab, clear the Suggest from main dictionary only check box.

Edit a custom dictionary

ShowAdd, delete, or edit words in a custom dictionary

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Spelling & Grammar tab.
  2. Click Custom Dictionaries.
  3. Select the dictionary you want to edit. Make sure you do not clear its check box.
  4. Click Modify.
  5. Do one of the following:
    • To add a word, type it in the Word box, and then click Add.
    • To delete a word, select it in the Dictionary box, and then click Delete.
    • To edit a word, delete it, and then add it with the spelling you want.

ShowAdd words to a custom dictionary during a spelling check

  1. On the Standard toolbar, click Spelling and Grammar Button image.
  2. In the Not in Dictionary box, make sure you see the word you want to add to a custom dictionary.
  3. To select the custom dictionary you want to add words to, click Options, and then click Custom Dictionaries. Select the check box next to a dictionary in the Dictionary list box, and then click OK twice.

    Note  If you don't see your custom dictionary in the list, you need to select the check box next to the dictionary to activate it.

  4. Click Add to Dictionary.

ShowTip

If you're using automatic spell checking, here's an even faster way to add a word to the default custom dictionary: Right-click a word with a wavy red underline, and then click Add to Dictionary on the shortcut menu.

ShowChange the language associated with a custom dictionary

By default, when you create a new custom dictionary, Word sets the dictionary to All Languages, meaning that the dictionary is used when you check the spelling of text in any language. However, you can associate a custom dictionary with a particular language so that Word only uses the dictionary when you check spelling of text in a particular language.
  1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Spelling & Grammar tab.
  2. Click Custom Dictionaries.

  3. In the Dictionary list box, click the dictionary you want.

  4. Click Modify.

  5. In the Language box, click the language you want for the dictionary.

ShowChange the default custom dictionary

You can change the custom dictionary that Word uses by default to check spelling, either for all languages or for a particular language.

Note  Each dictionary language grouping, including All languages, has a default custom dictionary.

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Spelling & Grammar tab.
  2. Click Custom Dictionaries.
  3. In the Dictionary list box, select the dictionary you want.
    • To change the default dictionary for all languages, click the dictionary name. If the list includes dictionaries for more than one language, click the dictionary name under All languages.
    • To change the default dictionary for a particular language, click the dictionary name under the language heading.
  4. Click Change Default.

    The next time you check spelling, Word uses the default custom dictionary you selected.