How Do I Add a Dictionary in Open Office 3.0 & Windows?

Add a custom dictionary word in OpenOffice to prevent rare words that you use from being flagged as misspelled.

In a word processing program such as the one included with OpenOffice 3.0, the spell check dictionary represents the best possible compromise between completeness and file size, as the vast majority of words that most people will use can be contained in a very small file. However, as you use the program, you are likely to find that you use certain words frequently--such as a rare surname--that are not detected by the dictionary. These words will always be tagged by OpenOffice as being misspelled, even though they are not. Add a custom word to the spell check dictionary in OpenOffice to prevent rare words that you use from being flagged as misspelled.

Instructions

1. Launch OpenOffice, and click "Text Document" to run OpenOffice Writer. Click the "Tools" menu at the top of the screen, then click "Options."

2. Click the plus sign next to "Language Settings" on the left side of the screen to expand the category, then click "Writing Aids."

3. Click "Standard [All]" under "User-defined Dictionaries," then click the "Edit" button.

4. Type the word that you would like to add under "Word," then click the "New" button to add that word to the dictionary. Continue this process until you have added each word that you would like to.

5. Click "Close," then click "OK" to resume creating your document.

Tips & Warnings

• To instantly add a single word to the OpenOffice dictionary, type a document as you normally would. When you type a word that is highlighted with a wavy red line indicating that it is detected as a misspelled word, right click it, then click "Add" and "standard.dic." The word will be added to the dictionary.

References

• OpenOffice Migration Guide: Importing Other Microsoft Office Files